The lagoon of love

Set on the shores of this lovers' lagoon is the Cook Islands' signature resort, The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa, a charming cocktail of Polynesian style blended with today's creature comforts.
The Rarotongan's Personal Wedding Planner says she’s finding an increasing number of couples from New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Europe, the US and Canada are opting for a no-fuss ceremony on the beach.

And it's not just the romance which draws couples, but also the practical advantages of having a very affordable no-fuss wedding combined all-in-one with a South Pacific honeymoon!

Some couples opt to marry barefoot with little more than pareus (sarongs), the scent of tropical flowers and the soft popping of champagne bubbles as company. Others go for designer gowns with the groom in a white dinner jacket, a relaxing pamper pack of massage and beauty treatments at the Resort's SpaPolynesia, professional hairstyling and make-up, and a full troupe of island drummers and dancers to celebrate.

The tree of life

All couples marrying at The Rarotongan Beach Resort & Spa plant a baby coconut palm, or uto, to seal their vows. Often they give it a special name to remember it by, and many also write to the Resort to ask how their 'baby' is doing.
In the islands the coconut is known as the 'Tree of Life' for the many different ways it sustains life in the South Pacific, from roof thatching to costumes, canoes, baskets, food, drink and even baby food.
Andrea says couples married at The Rarotongan seem to feel a real affection for their trees and often go back to check the little palm's progress.

 

Magic moments

For long-time Rarotongan International wedding photographer Paul Osta one of the most beautiful shots he's ever taken happened completely by accident. A couple chose to marry in the Titikaveka church not long after a storm had ripped off some of the roofing iron.

"As the couple were exchanging their vows a sunbeam shone down through the gap in the roof and lit them up like a spotlight from heaven. It was right on cue, like magic."

The Rarotongan's Andrea Wall remembers a similar blessing from above. One young couple were in Rarotonga on holiday shortly before their huge wedding planned for back home.
"They had gotten so stressed out about their big day that at the last minute they decided to marry here. But on the day of the wedding the weather completely closed in and it was pouring with rain. They were adamant they wanted to go ahead with their beach wedding, and just as the ceremony was due to start the clouds cleared and it was absolutely fine and still.

Just before they exchanged vows a light sunshower sprinkled down and a rainbow appeared and it was as though they were perfectly framed within it. They were a beautiful young couple and it was kind of supernatural, as though someone above was very happy with their decision.

Another magical occasion Andrea recalls was the wedding of an older New Zealand couple. "It was going to be the second marriage for both of them, and both had grown-up children, but they'd planned on something quiet and had eloped to Rarotonga just the two of them. Then the night before the wedding all the grown-up children arrived at the Resort as a surprise! The couple was overwhelmed with happiness at having the love and blessings of all their children, and everyone was very emotional. It was a really lovely ceremony, very heartfelt, and it was very moving to be a part of it."

Different brides, different styles

Andrea says one bride, a pilot, chose a flowing navy gown in which to say "I do", another chose lilac lace (and a two-tiered heart-shaped chocolate wedding cake!) and still another was so unused to wearing dresses that her workmates blitzed the Resort's fax with such helpful hints as "The long opening at the back is called a zipper and the two holes are for your arms to go through."
"On the day though she looked absolutely lovely in a short, simple pale cream dress," says Andrea.

 

Hanging in there

Also increasingly popular are Renewal of Vows ceremonies where couples want to make their wedding anniversary especially meaningful by confirming their love and commitment to each other.

"It's deeply touching to be at any wedding but these ceremonies can be especially moving because sometimes the couple have been through a lot together and they're saying, despite that, they still want to hang in there."

Many such couples particularly appreciate the seclusion and privacy of the Resort's Garden Wedding Gazebo. Nestled within The Rarotongan's lush tropical gardens, and with a sand floor and a canopy of thatched coconut palm leaves, the Gazebo is an intimate and very romantic venue very popular with couples seeking a beautiful alternative to a sunset beach wedding.

Signed and sealed with a kiss

Andrea Wall says Cook Islands' weddings are fully legally recognised worldwide. She says couples need only be in the Cook Islands three full working days prior to the ceremony to obtain their marriage licence. All that's required are the couples' passports and birth certificates, and divorce and death of spouse papers if applicable.

Reclaiming romance

And while hot floral colour schemes may not be everybody's pick, all the experts involved in weddings at The Rarotongan - Personal Wedding Coordinators, photographer William Tuiravakai, celebrant Nga Makirere, Reverend Teremoana Utia, florist Rangi Peyroux and many others - wholeheartedly agree on one thing. The overwhelming reason couples come to the Cook Islands is to reclaim the romance of their special day.

Says Aunty Nga:

"Couples come to Rarotonga to marry because they want it to be their day, and not the family's day. When they get back home they often have a big party for all their friends and family and show them the video or the wedding album, and that way they get the best of both worlds, the romance of escaping to a faraway tropical island along with the togetherness of sharing the event with all the other special people in their lives."