Romance & Roses On Rakino - Beauden & Hannah's Beautiful Big Day

The besotted All Black and his stunning bride share their glorious wedding exclusively with Woman’s Day.

- Kelly Bertrand

It’s a spectacular scene. Standing atop a hill on Rakino Island, their arms intertwined and the Hauraki Gulf dazzling behind them, All Black superstar Beauden Barrett and his beautiful bride Hannah Laity are on top of the world.

Framed by an incredible view of the sea and Auckland’s outer islands, the new Mr and Mrs Barrett share their first moment together as husband and wife. It doesn’t get any better than this, Beauden tells Woman’s Day.

“I’ve never been as nervous for a rugby game as I was today. The whole build-up was like a test match on its own! You just can’t compare it.”

Looking absolutely exquisite in a white couture figure-hugging gown, her cathedral-length veil blowing out behind her in the breeze, a laughing Hannah turns to Beauden and grins, “I can’t believe we’re married!”

From the moment he first laid eyes on Hannah, Beauden, 27, knew today would come.

After meeting in a Wellington bar for a date arranged by a mutual friend, the pair had realised they’d found their other halves by the end of the evening. Five years later, the stunning couple have pledged their love and exchanged vows in a deeply moving and spiritual ceremony in front of 180 of their family and friends.

“I knew I was on to a winner,” recalls a smiling Beauden of the night he met Hannah, then just 19 and studying to be a chartered accountant. “It was quite funny, though. At the location I’d chosen, all of her friends were sitting outside, so it got off to a very awkward start!”

The humble Taranaki lad continues, “But I knew. Han was the first girl I took home to my parents and I always said the first one I brought home would be the one I’d marry. I was dead right.”