- Across Aotearoa, wedding bells are ringing. - MAN: Kua tuhono nga whakapapa! - I do. - I feel very lucky to be a celebrant. - And making them official... - So fancy. - ...are our Maori celebrants. - Which one is it? - Ah, I nearly gave him a ring around the ears. - (ALL CHEER) - Raise your glasses for the newlywed couple! - From the vows to the rings,... - You may now kiss your bride. (CHEERING) - ...they help couples say 'I do'. (ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC CONTINUES) This is Aroha Nui. www.able.co.nz Able 2022 (ELECTRIC DANCE MUSIC) This week's Maori celebrant, Luke Bird, is no stranger to the glitz and glamour of Tamaki Makaurau. - Yes! Yes! I'm probably more known as a social television personality, of being colourful and fun. - PHOTOGRAPHER: Last one. Last one. Here we go. And... bang! - Yes! Thank you. I'm actually quite new to being a wedding celebrant. People have always said, 'Oh, you'd be great to, sort of, be a celebrant at a wedding.' I love this. - (WOMAN LAUGHS) - I mean, to be invited to a wedding, one, is a privilege, but to be the person who officiates that, um, connection is a huge honour. (LIGHT-HEARTED MUSIC) - This week, Luke is marrying Bailee and Alex in Aotearoa's winter wonderland, Tahuna ` Queenstown. - Hey, buddy! - Heya. - How are you? - Not too bad. - Good to see you. The wedding is at the fantastic Gibbston Valley Winery,... Cool. Hello, hello. Hi! ...which is one of the country's best vineyards, so it's gonna be a goodie. Oh, look at you. Hi, beautiful. Mwah. Ohh. - How are you? - Good, thank you. So good to see you. - I've missed you. - Look at you. Hi. Are you excited? - Um, yeah. - We'd, um, been to a couple of events that he'd, like, hosted or MC'd or` and we just liked his` kind of his high-energy approach and just kind of his` not his loudness, but just his, kind of` like, you know what I mean? Just his, um... Just the kind of presence that he has, kind of, in a room. - He puts a lot of love into things. - Yeah. - Are you good? - Yeah, yeah. We're good. - The head's good? - Yeah, I think so. - Big night? - Yeah. - This love story began 10 years ago. - We first met the night the Breakers won their first championship in 2011. - Oh, this is coming out. - That's when we met. And we obviously remembered each other from high school. - I think we started off with friendship that gradually grew into a relationship, and then, all of a sudden, we are getting engaged. So it was a` I think a slow burn is a good way to put it. - Mm. Yeah. - And, yeah, Alex crawled himself out of the friend's basket, which is just... - (CHUCKLES) - Good for you. (LAUGHS) - See. It as possible. - In early 2021, the pro basketballer was given devastating news when he was diagnosed with cancer. - Cancer is kind of the worst-case scenario of all of the possibilities that can cause it. So when you hear a doctor say those words, it's pretty shocking. We'd actually sent out the invitations the day before I got diagnosed. - Preparing our wedding celebration around a... a diagnosis, I suppose, and treatment and just around generally not feeling well was... a bit challenging. Um... Worth it though. - Why would I say no to something like that when I can be part of happiness and making sure that their positive energy is amplified even more by bringing a sense of colour and... and vibe to their day. And... I've met` Who are you? - Oh, I'm Mark. - Mark the brother, oh good. Partner? - Fiance. Music player. - Yeah, and I'm gonna` Oh yeah. - Pushing the buttons. - Yeah, yeah, I've got the important role. Hope I don't get stiff fingers. - Oh good, great. (INDISTINCT CHATTER) Morning! I've been an entertainer for quite a long time, but in terms of being a professional entertainer, I've been doing it now for about eight years, and that, sort of, is a evolvement of` involvement of television hosting, um, fashionista, hosting events around the country with celebrity speakers. Right. Here we go. Let's` Yes, let's get this all sorted. Cos we've got quite the day. I like to think of it as a entertainment` like an entertainment smorgasbord, where there's something in it for everybody, and you can just pick and choose what you want at the time. Oh, yeah. There we go. We're fluffing up the bird, polishing the bird knob. With Kirsty, everybody. And we've got a fantastic crew. Whoo! A lot of people think that my life is all, like, glam and high-rise this and go to this and do that, and, yeah, it is, but there's a lot of work that goes in` that's involved to create my mahi. So I travel a lot. On top of that, I also host a television show with another network here in New Zealand, which is in front of a live studio audience. So it's a game show, so there's a lot of rehearsals with that, as well as the filming in front of people. What a pleasure it is to have you with us. (CHEERS, APPLAUSE) I walk up the street, and I'm going, 'I'm Luke Bird! Hear me chirp!' (LAUGHS) - Back home in Whangarei, Luke is finding time to focus on Alex and Bailee's wedding plans. - So, I've got an idea for your ceremony, but I just want to check in with you. Are there things that you have an idea of what you want in your ceremony that I should be including? - I would say, just because I won't be having my dad there or my grandmother ` my dad and my grandmother have both passed away ` I would like a little bit of Maori in the mix. - OK, cool. - Just` I wouldn't even know where to start, but I just think that that would be a nice sentiment to them and a nice little touch to, kind of, include them in the day when they can't physically be there. Is that an option? - Of course it's an option! Don't ask. You just tell me. - (LAUGHS) - They live in Invercargill, and I'm here on the North Island, in Whangarei and Auckland. So, when they first approached me, I was like, 'Well, let's meet up for lunch, and we'll go over a few things.' So she goes, 'Sure, if you want to come to Invercargill.' I was like, 'Oh, OK. Maybe not.' But, you know, there's Zoom and all that kind of thing. We've been talking all the time, emails backwards and forwards. Is there anything with the ceremony you don't want me to say or don't want me to add? Cos I know some ceremonies can go on far too long. - I think we were kind of planning for intimate but fun. Liaising with Luke at the opposite end of the country from us was a lot of messaging, a lot of emails. In saying that, he kind of guided the entire process for us. Doesn't have to be too serious for the whole thing. - Yes. - But, to be honest, we kinda just asked you cos I figured you'd be able to spearhead that, and, you know` you're the ringleader. - It's not about me. It's about making sure that they are happy with their day and making sure that the connection they have with each other is seen throughout the congregation. Great. I'm happy if you're happy. I mean, you're the boss. (LAUGHS) - It looks like Luke has all his paperwork in order, but the bride-to-be might be in hot water. - A few weeks ago, I told Alex not to write his vows at the last possible moment. 'I know this phase has been rough.' And then I've got nothing after that. I haven't written them at all. - (LAUGHS) (UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC) - It's the day before Alex and Bailee's wedding, and Luke has just arrived in Tahuna. - Hello. How are you? I'm Luke. - I'm good. I'm Roger. - Nice to meet you. - I'm a big fan. - You are so kind. That is very kind of you. - What brought you here? - Oh, just a bit of, you know, wedding celebrant awesomeness. - Oh, right. - Bringing the bird down to the South to make sure people feel the personality at the wedding. - Well, definitely, Karaoke Sidewalk is a` - Oh, that` - Have a wonderful stay. - You've just made my day. - With the rehearsal on his mind, Luke settles into his room with a view. - Look at the view. Oh! Before the rehearsal, I'm a bit of a stiffler, and I just wanna make sure that every little detail of that paperwork is all legit. Marriage. Registrar. Hello, I'm a Pisces ` I do these things. Ko te tumanako kua Rangatira ta korua nohotahi i runga i te manaaki me te haranui. By the power of your love and commitment to each other and by the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. A lot of people don't truly get that being a celebrant, it's a legal thing as well. I'm no lawyer, by the way, but I'm also a representative of... of the legalities of a wedding, and so, when you're given that privilege to do it, you also make sure that it's` it's done to the full extent of making` of the legal part. - With everything good to go at the vineyard, Luke Springs into action. - Hi, everybody. I'm Luke. I'm the, um, well, the random guy that will be making sure the paperwork is signed and the thing is sent off to the chief registrar. Being an entertainer actually helps a lot running rehearsals or being the celebrant, I suppose, of an event, purely because it's actually all the same. (LAUGHS) Are you entering to music? - Yep. So that's what we were figuring out tonight. - Tonight. Yeah, good, great. - Um, and then` - Cos, really, the only rehearsal I just want is to make sure timing's right, we're in here, when I announce you as, you know, kiss the bride, that kind of thing, then you go to the signing of the book... - Yup. - ...and we come back... - Yup. - ...and then, by law, can't announce as Mr and Mrs until you've signed the paperwork. - OK, cool. One of the things about Luke is that he's actually very good at taking control without... taking over, and he just, sort of, came in, and my exact instructions to him were, 'There's a lot of people here. Go for it. This is actually your show at this point.' This is my aisle. - This is your walk. This is cool. - Surrounded by all my friends. - (LAUGHS) - We've got all our friends and the barrels. - All our friends and family. So, I love the wine cave, because it's a cave full of wine. - (CHUCKLES) - But it's a beautiful setting for a wedding, I think. It's low-lit. It's romantic. It's different. So when you've got your guests coming in, it's such a grand entrance for them. It's a nice experience for them. It's` This is so weird, but I love the smell of it. It's oak. It's wine. - (CHUCKLES) - And it's also nestled, I think, 70m underground, under, basically, a mountain. It's so cool what they've done. This is where your magic happens. - Yes. Now, um... Oh, wow. Oh! Oh! Ooh! Oh, wow. What a space. - That's going to be over here. Luke and the acoustics of a cave was a perfect` - (CHUCKLES) - That's` That's a marriage in itself. But, yeah, and that's why we chose the cave, and that's why I love it. It's just` It's one of those places that not a lot of people would maybe know about without going. So I wanted to` I wanted to really treat our guests. - Do we just do this? - Yeah, that's perfect. So I'll just say, like, 'Alex and Bailee, please join hands. 'Look at one another.' - (LAUGHS) - 'Remember this moment in time.' Now, I will ask you the same thing I'm gonna ask you, but the answer is, 'I do', not 'I will'. I can't stand 'I will'. - OK, I'll say 'I do'. - Yeah. Just don't 'I will'. ROUGHLY: I did! I've done it! - (LAUGHS) - Yeah. So it'll end with, 'and find new reasons to love her every day.' And then you say... - I do. - Not at me! (LAUGHTER) - I do. - The rehearsal's going great. I enjoy the fact that I can, sort of, not take control but add my Luke Bird flair to something. And then I say, 'As you place this ring on Bailee's finger, repeat these words after me.' So I thought we were having a lapel, and I didn't realise it was quite a cave, so I don't want everyone to hear me, though. Which is` They're gonna hear me, aren't they? Yeah, they will. - That's all right. - So then I just tell you what to say. You just repeat after me. Yep. Do you want to practise it or no? - Break it into segments. - Yeah, no, it will be. Yeah. Cos I'll just tell you what to do. And this is the part where I have to say your full, full names. Is that OK? You OK with that? - Yep. - Cool. - I do think he really melted away 90% of the stress that I had around that particular rehearsal. So, yeah, him with people, him with content... it was amazing. - Then we finish that by saying, 'You will now seal your vows with a kiss!' Use a bit of tongue! (LAUGHTER) Smoochie-woochies! I'm trying to keep them` just keeping them bubbly and keeping them... their little energy levels just nice and bubbling away, like a little simmering pot. You just want them just to keep simmering away nicely, because as soon as something can happen at a rehearsal that they haven't thought of, things start happening; they start overthinking it. We don't want that at all. What the audience doesn't know, doesn't hurt. - (LAUGHS) - So far, so good, but are Bailee's nerves about to bubble over? - I just need five minutes of peace and quiet to get my vows done. - And will Alex be upstaged by his best man? - Third wheeling it for Boris and Mum. (UPBEAT ELECTRONIC MUSIC) - Kua tae mai te ra nui. - Excellent. - I love that. - And Alex's first job is to get Boris, his groomsdog, ready. - So you look nice for your mum's big day. Just third wheeling it for Boris and Mum. - (LAUGHS) - Yeah, I was in charge of making sure the dog looked polished and clean, cos he quite often doesn't. Some dreadies in there. We put his little bow tie... with a bunch of planets and stars and moons and stuff on it around his collar. - Yay. Yeah. - Yeah, that's kind of the moment where he thought it was all about him. - But, of course, it's not all about Boris. The real stars of the show are prepping for the big event. - You're standing in front of everyone, looking all fancy, holding flowers. He's 7ft of pure man, and I'm 6'5" of a whole lot of other man. And you're, well,... 5ft. If I'm doing something and I'm not nervous, it's saying that whatever I'm doing is not important. So I'm a big believer that, if you are nervous when you are hosting an event, performing an event, doing the wedding celebrant of a wedding, then it's` they're there to remind you that what you're doing is really important. - Bailee's had her eye across every detail of the wedding, but there's one thing that slipped her mind. - A few weeks ago, I told Alex not to write his vows at the last possible moment. I just didn't want them rushed, because I think vows are really important. I haven't written them at all. - (LAUGHS) - I just need five minutes of peace and quiet to get my vows done, gather my thoughts. READS: 'I'm not even sure how we do things sometimes, 'but our absolute opposite approaches entwine and just seem to work.' I don't know. We can talk about the cancer as much as we possibly could... - Yep. - ...but it's just not really about that. It's not what makes him him,... - Yep. - ...but it's what's made us how we are in this phase. - Yep. - I'm probably gonna wrap up after that. - Yep I think so. That's a great... - Yeah. - All right. Well, cheers, gal. To your wedding day. So happy for you. - So, with Bailey's vows finally done, it's time to head over to the wedding cave. (FUNKY ELECTRIC GUITAR MUSIC) - How we all feeling? (CHEERING) Fantastic. Now, the team are ready. Look at this dashing 7ft of pure man, everyone. Let's hear it for Alex! Let's hear it for Alex! (CHEERING) (GENTLE MUSIC) - This couple have already loved one another in sickness and in health, and now Bailee and Alex's big moment is finally here. (LAUGHTER) - (SNIFFLES) - Give her a big squeeze. There you go. - It's time for Mr Bird to make this love story official. - Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te karohirohi i mua tou tatou huarahi. Tihei wa mauri ora. Tena tatou katoa, i tae mai ki konei ki te whakanui a te kaupapa tino whakahirahira o Alex raua ko Bailee. Today is a celebration of love, of commitment, of friendship, and of family and of two people who are in it forever. - (LAUGHS) - THEATRICALLY: Da-da-da! Forever! (LAUGHTER) Love is the theme, love is the key and love is what we share all together. So let me hear you all say love! ALL CHANT: Love! Right. Here we go. (LAUGHTER) The nitty gritty. Will you, Alex, keep Bailee as your favourite person, to laugh with her, go on adventures with her, support her through life's tough moments, be proud of her, grow old with her and find new reasons to love her every day? - I do. - Will you, Bailee, keep Alex as your favourite person, to laugh with him, go on adventures with him, support him through life's tough moments, be proud of him, grow old with him and find new reasons to love him every day? - Just remember the dog's not a person. (LAUGHTER) - I do. (LAUGHS) - Now to the vows. (LAUGHTER) - Now to the actual point. Um... I have just one thing. From now until the end of time, I promise... (TEARFULLY) just to give all myself to you. I love you. - (SNIFFLES) - Alex is giving his vows, and I thought it was so stunning, because it was the crux of what they're about. Also, it summed up the journey they're going through currently with what he's going through. And there is not a dry eye. I was trying not to cry myself. - I know I told you that you weren't allowed to write your vows on your phone, and I'm really sorry... (LAUGHTER) And I am really sorry. (LAUGHS) - Oh, how rude. - READS: A life with you so far, I can sum up in just one word ` full. Not to take away from it with a one-word summary, but full of love, full of fun and full of surprises. I have looked forward to this day for quite some time now. The lead-up I wouldn't call a cookie-cutter wedding moment. (LAUGHTER) But, again, another testament to our love and partnership. I know this phase has been really rough on you, but waking to the same face full of love has given me the right dose of energy to get us through. Your strength is actually contagious. Standing here, we have our promises. But my personal promise is one of loving you through all of it, making sure our lives are full with all of the good stuff and reminding you to change your shorts. (LAUGHTER) And it's one of those surreal moments where you get to actually tell someone exactly how you feel about them and exactly why. And I think that's one thing that's really special about a wedding is that you tell people that you love them all the time, but you don't really elaborate and tell them the core values of why you love them. So I think it's` it's just really special. - I offer you this ring to wear as a symbol of our unbreakable bond and love for each other. You know, after... all the planning, just after the whole... just the diagnosis, everything, just, kind of, finally, just having that moment when we were both there, um, yeah, it's kind of hard to put it in just a couple of words. It was just, um, yeah, a really, really special moment. - I offer you this ring to wear as a symbol of our unbreakable bond and love for each other. - Tena ra watu korua kua oti i a korua te paihere tetahi ki tetahi ra, ko te tumanako kua Rangatira ta korua nohotahi i runga i te manaaki me te haranui. By the power of your love and commitment to each other and by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your vows with a kiss. (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) Yes! Whoo! The wedding has been a stunning day. We've had emotion. We've had humour. All in all, it has encompassed such a stunning vibe, and the ahuatanga of the room, the wairua of room is certainly there. So, to Alex and Bailee, I am truly, truly honoured and privileged to be part of your day. You're a stunning couple. Love you! - Just a few months after tying the knot, Bailee and Alex have some good news to share with Luke. - About three weeks ago, I had my, um, my operation... - Oh, yes. - ...to get my cancer removed, and it was very successful. - Whoo! - They got all of it. So, yeah, I'm pretty` pretty happy about that. - Te ahua nei ka pumau tonu pea to Bailey raua ko Alex aroha,