Walking on sunshine REBEKAH & BEVAN'S DAY OF SURPRISES

The couple blew their guests away!

- Marilynn Mclachlan

When Shortland Street actress Rebekah Palmer swapped her nurse’s uniform for a dreamy wedding dress to marry Bevan Randell on February 7, her groom couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I’ve never seen Bex look so beautiful in my life and there were just so many emotions going on all at once,” says Bevan from their Hawke’s Bay honeymoon two days later.

“I thought I knew what to expect, but nothing prepared me for when I first saw her – she looked absolutely stunning. I was blown away.”

And his loved-up bride felt the same, gushing, “I don’t remember even looking or seeing anyone else. I just saw him at the end of the aisle and thought how handsome he looked, and I couldn’t wait to be standing next to him.”

But just half an hour before their romantic moment, which takes place in amongst the rolling olive groves of South Auckland’s Bracu, there are a lot more people who are being blown away – all of their 100 guests!

In a plan to surprise everyone, Bevan has arranged for a helicopter to deliver the groom’s party to the venue. But as it nears the white gazebo, rotor blades roaring, it creates a fierce wind.

“I could see everyone ducking for cover with their arms up and all of the ladies trying to cover their hair!” the 32-year-old recalls. “It was just too much, watching the chairs completely blow over and flowers going everywhere. It was one of those moments when I thought, ‘Oh no’, but at the same time it was very funny.”

While the groomsmen pose for photos, celebrant Justine Russell-Cowen looks around at the dishevelled space and announces, amid much laughter, “Well, that was dramatic!”, adding, “I guess there’s going to be more drama because it has to take off again!”