ELLIE + BRETT
the fitzgeralds
ELLIE + BRETT
the fitzgeralds FEBRUARY 25, 2022 HAINES HOME
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
brett’s vows Ellie my gorgeous Bride. I thank the day that God brought you into my life, your joy and your passion for life is contagious. Wherever you go your smile brightens up any room. You bring an energy into peoples lives that makes them laugh and feel cared for. I love your caring nature and your ability to not take life too seriously, and have some fun along the way. You have helped me become a more confident person and you build me up more than you will ever know. You are one of my biggest inspirations in life, I am so proud of who you are. I promise to love you with a tender hear t through thick and thin, no matter what life throws our way I will always be by your side. I look forward to seeing how God will work in our marriage and our lives. I know that we have the best years of our lives ahead of us and together we are capable of achieving many great things. I can’t wait for us to become parents together. I know you will be most amazing mother who will care for our children and family with a soft hear t and glowing warmth. I promise to back you in your dreams, aspirations and desires. I promise to stay faithful to you and honour you in all aspects of our marriage. Lastly I promise to love you forever and ever. Amen.
ellie’s vows Brett Jayden Fitzgerald. Take us back 5 years ago, a moment I will cherish forever. You pulled up and I spotted that big magnetic smile of yours. You looked so handsome, and you had this confidence in you that drew me in. You walked straight up to me, softly grabbed my face and kissed me. I immediately felt safe, I felt an instant warmth, protection and comfor t that I hadn’t felt before, I felt complete. From that moment on, I never wanted to let you go and knew you were my person. I dreamed of having a love like my parents, a love that was deep, pure, honest, raw, trusting and warm. I have found that in you Brett, we have found that in us. We have built the foundation of a loving relationship that I know will stand up to the test of time, and I can’t wait to have our kids watch our love stor y and aspire to have one like ours too. Thank you for being my safe place to go to in both my best and worst days. Thank you for making me feel comfor table, listened to and appreciated. Thank you for making me feel like the most beautiful and only girl in the room. Thank you for making me dream big and helping me see the world in vivid colour. I am honoured to be standing in front of you today, to give you my promises. I promise to always love you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I promise to always cherish you as my husband today, tomorrow and always. I promise to keep doing my cute dances and scratching that hair on your chest each morning, just to see that annoyed smile. I promise to listen, to be patient and to be honest. I promise to always have fun with you and to laugh with you. I promise to never let you walk alone and will always be by your side. I promise this all to my ver y last breath.
dad’s speech Kia Ora, welcome to the Fitzgerald whanau. Its been really cool to meet you all and meeting people that are extended family and friends is what this is all about, family. Theres such a joy in the air today and it resonates around that. Ellie’s friends, you’ve grown up around our family, and you three scally wags I’m coming back to you later! But that’s also extended family, and now you guys are having families, so that’s pretty cool that we’re able to pull it off with them today. On top of that is our family - the Haines family, and our extended family. We get together on occasions, and a wedding is pretty cool, doesn’t get much better. And then of course there’s our old family friends that are here, my oldest friends, surviving friends. So were all very lucky to be here, with all the hurdles that we’ve had the last couple of years that this has been on the cards. Theres been all sor ts of things happen for everybody in the room. We’re lucky to be under 99 in a private venue - that’s working in our favour. I do want you to make sure you have a good time tonight, because this is not a dress rehearsal and so far its going off like a cracker! So they say that you have to kiss a few frogs to find a prince. Ellie was like a magnet for frogs, and they were mostly toe rags who would fall for her big time. And then eventually Ellie would swat them off like a fly. I’ve chased them off the proper ty, I’ve pursued them in cars, I’ve banned them from our house, I’ve served a trespass order, and then, along came Brett Fitzgerald. Good news all round! And he didn’t seem to be a toe rag, he was pretty keen - driving up from Queenstown most weekends and I thought that was good commitment. So things were now star ting to look serious, Ellie had found a prince. Brett and Ellie lived together and they got on well, love blossomed, Ellie was really happy. And that was pretty cool to see, for a long time you were searching for something and you found it in Brett. So Brett rings me one day to ask for Ellies hand in marriage. The problem was, it was in the middle of a Joseph Parker world title fight. I said Brett, bad timing mate call you back later! Which I did, after checking with head office, of course we said yes, and the rest is history. Just to sure, I’ve asked Ellie multiple times are you sure you want to go through with this, cause Dad’s can fix things! And she has never faulted in her reply, not once. In your voice, that conviction, that yes you want to marry that man, Brett Fitzgerald. Ellie is, and always will be, our precious cargo. I thought that you hadn’t put a foot wrong, apar t from kissing a few frogs. Until… her 21st bir thday. And where you ladies (who look stunning tonight), took turns to rattle off 21 reasons for me to think that Ellie is a bit of a character. I’ve only just gotten over it now! Ellie comes from a long line of strong woman, on both sides of the family and that shows in your character. Your true to who you are all the time, that’s a strength and I love that. Her Grandmother, Joan met Brett and knew of their impending marriage. And it was really cool to see the way that you met my mother and how you interacted with that her with that purpose that you were going to marry Ellie. She sensed that, so she was judging you and she was quite wise. Good news was, that she gave it her blessing and she knew that you guys would be married. We’ve got a piece of her here today, Ellie’s gar ter and this gift here Ells, that’s so special. That pragmatism that Mum had, you have that too, and your creative side, and your vision. You’ve added that to Bretts life. You’re in for a crazy ride with that sor t of thing, which is great she’s a very creative girl Ellsy. And where you’re at now with what you do is proof of that. Who would’ve thought your doing what you’re doing, we talked about that with Nana Haines didn’t we. Imagine having your own business one day, this is when your 15 and you really don’t have to work. My mum would say “well you’re really going to have to work hard if your gunna do that”. Ellie would be like “yeeeah”, texting her boyfriend. How many do you reckon you had? Na don’t answer that! Not many if any. I know mum was proud of you Ells and we spoke about that. She knew that you had it in you to carry on that tradition in the family that we have in wanting to do something for yourself and you’ve had that drive in your from a young age. And now it’s turned into something which is pretty cool to create a business at a time like this. Then we add in to the mix Brett Fitzgerald. You have taken on that side to make something of that drive you have. You’ve got to be a bit crazy to be in business, you’ve got to work hard and be determined and you guys have that. The success that you’ve had with Abeillle is a wonderful addition to life, you’ve created a brand. I love it, I’m gunna put your rent up! Marriage takes a lot of hard work, compromise, understanding, strength, commitment, and a dash of good luck to survive. Good marriages should get better with time. Now talking about time, its about time we revisited the old 38 year thing! Its just crazy how it turned out that we’ve got your guys wedding anniversary, ours same day 38 years ago. I don’t want to waste having an audience here tonight so, with Ellie and Bretts prior approval, I have a small token Linda to acknowledge our anniversary and another stage in our journey. On that note, I wish you both health and happiness on the journey ahead, and as a family we’re going to be with you to suppor t you every step of the way. Welcome to our new family.
hamish’s speech Good evening ladies and gentleman, my name is Hamish and it is a privilege to be standing up here this evening speaking for this special newlywed couple. First, I would like to comment on how amazing the bride and her first ladies look. The fellas also look pretty sharp too. My first memories of Brett stem back to 2007, when he saw the light and made the move from Kings to Johnnies. Little did he know that he would have to star t wearing his pants backwards, or at least that’s what his former Kings counterpar ts would think. From day dot he was a big advocate for belt buckles and RM Williams boots. This completed the Lawrence stereotype for us and provided us with great enter tainment. This passion has not changed to this day, but the irony here is that I’m standing here wearing a belt buckle and my third pair of RM Williams boots, as par t of the groomsman kit. Perhaps you are ahead of your time as you’ve often said. Brett became a regular in the second row of the footy team from U15 right through to first XV, and it was here that I learnt just how tough they make them in Lawrence. Brett was a specialist at rucktime. He had the innate ability to clear both teams from a breakdown, using only his head. Its a shame that they didn’t quite spend as much time perfecting ball skills and hand-eye, as a very dusty nut Brett cost us an oppor tunity at toppling OBHS in 7th form. I remember this quite vividly; two men overlap, myself to Elliot Adamson, Elliot to Brett, and then Brett tossed the ball in a motion like he was trying to smack someones bottom. He missed Sam Sinclair by about three metres, and our almost cer tain try scoring oppor tunity dissipated into the wind. Brett used to stay the odd weekend at our place at high school, often to attend the off par ties and what not. Early on in the piece we were getting stuck into a couple with Mum and Dad when Brett went to the toilet, and I remember Mum asking if he was a pretty chatty bloke or it was just James’ Speights talking. We’d only had the neck of the first stubbie, so I’m not too sure about how I answered that one. He’d obviously been talking along the lines of the difference between the 3.9 and 4.0L EB Fairmont engines. It’s actually a great achievement in itself that you didn’t end up marrying that old fairmont of yours. Another early memory of Brett was the Ford everything that he had. Duvet cover, pillowcases and an oversized flag positioned in his room. So much was his love for Fords that any mention of a Holden would send Brett into a fit of rage. For many of us, we will know how easy it is to wind him up. So on a daily basis we would tell him how much Fords suck. And each and every day we would get the reaction we were after. Fast forward 5 years and Brett would be selling Holdens at GWD in Queenstown. Im not much of a salesman, but I can’t imagine that ar ticulating your hatred for Holdens would create the customer service experience they would expect. Fast forward another few years and he’d gone to Europeans. Took him a couple of goes however, his first Merc was dragged off at the lights in town by a Toyota RAV4. Returned about as quickly as it left the car lot. Brett, it’s an honour to be standing here beside you, and I’m proud for what you have achieved on a personal and professional level. You’re a loyal friend and have a great passion and dedication in what you do. This is evident in your growing successful candle business and I’m stoked things are working out for you both. You’ve been through highs and lows in my time knowing you, and its pretty cool to see how happy you are with everything today. We’ve had plenty of great memories together and I look forward to many more. Its also been great to meet you Ellie. You’re a perfect match for Brett and the only person I know to get him featuring in instagram videos. That in itself is an achievement. I wish you guys all the best in your marriage ahead and look forward to seeing what you guys are going to accomplish together. So with that I’d like to propose a toast - to Ellie and Brett.
laura’s speech Ellie. The early years of our friendship are sketched in my memory, like the names of childhood lovers we sketched in the fallen tree at lake brunner, that we used to call our love log. Manifesting love to come into fruition by carving boys’ names into the log with probably our mum’s stolen bread knives. From picking the stones out of the road’s tar, playing crash bandicoot, writing in our diaries about our every move and every thought, performing the dance to honey to our family friends, and watching blue crush on repeat until we could mimic every word. Dreaming one day I’d become a pro surfer at Pipeline, and you’d be my pro jet ski driver. We used to get thrown around that lake on the biscuit like a couple of wet sneakers in a clothes dryer, one of lulu’s many handy tips I learned from our weekends growing up together at Brunner. You were & still are my best friend, and you were always my biggest influencer. Influencing me to shave my legs at age 11, to buy my first crop top when let’s be honest I still don’t probably need one yet. Giving me numbers of boys you liked so I too had someone to flir t with on those landline nights. You had my back and I had yours. Nearly 25 years of friendship & we’ve been through some big life phases. Inter twining our high school friend groups, and causing mavic in the old Christchurch town, which thanks to Samantha Jillian Judy Jellie, and Isabel Mclernon, at age 16 we had triple A access to all those iconic bars that no longer stand. Memories I have of our nights in town in our “new boots”, to finding our way to Mad Cow for 3pm lockdown, and carrying couches we found on the roadside on the walk home from town back to Alice’s parents flat - we sure live, we sure laugh, and we sure love each other. We lived in our first flat together with Rach, and I have never to this day seen a floor so dir ty after that flat warming. And we lived in our last flat together, the Bealey Bungalow, where we both met our now Husband, and husband to beeeee. The first night we both met Brett, he arrived in the early hours of the morning, to a hell of a do, after a long drive from Queenstown. I’d just finished riding our friend Max down the stairs like a surfboard wearing a pair of childrens sized purple dir ty dogs, and he flew down the staircase into the wall making a solid dent - but not to worry I had just star ted seeing his best mate Griff who turns out to be the Plastermaster. Bretts walks in to this scene, I offer him a cup of tea.. As you do.. off they went to Ellie’s room, and the rest was history. Stories aside. Elz you truly are someone so special, I bet everyone here in this room, you have had an absolutely huge impact on their lives. You have always been there for me, to laugh and bitch and moan, and cry with, all our moods, to figure out, growing up with. You are kind, generous, driven, empathetic, loving, and you bring people together. You make everyone feel comfor table, and sometimes at your own embarrassing expense. You have a huge influence on many people’s lives. You teach people to love themselves, to laugh at themselves, to not take life too seriously. That’s the kind of girl I want to be around forever. Brett, you have scored one hell of a girl to spend your life with. You two really are a perfect match. Brett you care for our friend so beautifully, you are such a genuine kind man. And you make a hell of a roast potato. You two have so much fun together, you both work hard together, you have strong values, and Sam and I love spending time with you both. We look forward to our inter twining lives, maybe one day raising little tar picking freaks together. Congratulations on officially becoming Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald, I am so so so happy for you both, I will always be here for you both, and wish you all the happiness in the world. Let’s raise our glasses, and finish your bloody vessels - to the Fitzgeralds!!!
jess’ speech Ellie, Brett, the Haines and Fitzgerald families, and everyone here today, we can’t tell you what a privilege it is to be standing here as par t of Ellie and Brett’s bridal par ty. For those who don’t me, I am Jess. I first met Ellie over 12 years ago and it was instant love. Over the years we have packed in so much together, including navigating our early 20s as two gemini’s trying to control our erratic emotions and keep it together while often making questionable choices, all while slowly destroying our livers. Now we are in our early 30s, creating new memories and making much better choices. We like to think we are telepathic and slightly woo woo with our intuitions and honestly Ellie, there is no one else I’d rather be woo woo with than you. It is going to be hard for me to keep a straight face today, because Ellie and I are known for getting the giggles – and being an unstoppable force of silliness when that happens. This is something I admire about our friendship, we like to have fun and laugh till we cry. Ellie is a force of nature, like a beautiful firecracker. She burns bright, is fiercely loyal and is incredibly funny. And Brett… well we’ve come to learn that Brett is the salt of the ear th kind of guy, he is honest, very patient and absolutely adores our Ellie. I love how Brett and Ellie take the micky out of each other, like quite a bit, and usually it’s at Ellie’s expense, because… Ellie. But what I’m trying to say is they don’t take themselves too seriously! They understand the value of how precious time is so they roll with the punches and when life throws curve balls and always find the best out of situations. Something I admire about Ellie and Brett is their family values. They have both been raised with kindness, respect and so much love. And this truly resonates with the relationship they have: They leave nothing unsaid, they look after each other well, they respect and care for each other deeply and they keep each other grounded and calm. We can all see that you are both a solid foundation for the other and are a force to be reckoned with as business par tners and in marriage. Woohoo, raise your glass!
rach’s speech My name is Rachel and along with Jess and Laura, I am so stoked to be a par t of the bridal par ty. And thank you all, for being a par t of this one-of-a-kind day celebrating a one-of-a-kind couple. Our Ellie truly is one of a kind. I don’t doubt that every person in this room has had at least one, one of a kind moment with her. I’ve had many. My friendship with Ellie has truly been one of the best. The broken heels, burnt dinners, full fringes, side fringes, hair dying, hair waxing, upset neighbours, nail polished holes in tights, shared flats, shared rooms and shared memories over the last 15 or so years have added to my life in a big way. And I am so thankful. Ellie’s the type of person who makes you laugh until it hur ts and the type of friend who makes everything seem better. Today, however, is not about us. It is about Ellie and Brett. One thing I really admire about Brett is his authenticity. He is unapologetically him. His passion, drive, kindness and honesty comes from the hear t. And it is his hear t that has captured Ellie’s. His authenticity has given Ellie the foundations to feel safe, secure and valued. With this, the two of them have been able to take on life as a team. And what a team they make. I have seen Brett bring out the best in Ellie. His strength and security has suppor ted Ellie to become a self assured person who is confident in her abilities and wor th. There is nothing more that a friend could ask for. So Ellie and Brett, may you continue to be passionate, understanding and authentic together. And Brett, every time you find a milky, mouldy, half drunk cup of tea with the tea bag still in, remember this moment and enjoy the ride. Because it’s gonna be one hell of a good one.
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