Tight security for Richie and Gemma wedding
All Black great Richie McCaw and his partner Black Stick Gemma Flynn were married before more than 100 guests at a closely guarded wedding in Wanaka yesterday.
The couple – both New Zealand sporting royalty – exchanged vows and shared their first kiss as man and wife under a wooden arch surrounded by olive trees and above a lawn housing the marquee and a sign saying LOVE.
Flynn looked elegant in a sleek white satin dress with hair loosely drawn back in a chignon bun, adorned with a veil. She carried a bunch of white and light pink roses, matching the blush of the floaty bridesmaids dresses.
McCaw wore a black suit and a bow tie, with white flowers in his lapel.
The wedding party included at least three bridesmaids and groomsmen.
The coupled tied the knot around 3pm yesterday at the Olive Grove wedding venue on the shores of Lake Wanaka.
The couple could have wished for better weather as Wanaka turned on a blustery, overcast day for the wedding, a wellkept secret until this weekend. But the heavens seemed to smile on the ceremony after it was finished, with the sun making an appearance and wind dying down.
A team of about 22 security guards surrounded the venue in presidential-type security and ensured the media were denied any free shots of the couple or their guests. The guest list remains secret but about 80 people boarded buses at quiet locations in Wanaka and were driven to the venue.
Among those embarking was All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, wearing a pink shirt and brown shoes.
Two luxury Mercedes SUVs, one black, the other white, arrived shortly before 2pm, probably delivering McCaw to the venue. Three helicopters flew to the venue after the ceremony and left about 6pm.