Wedding treasures stolen
It was supposed to be the pictureperfect wedding day for Krenalyia and Torrence Maynard.
The sun was shining, everything ran to schedule, and they celebrated into the night with family and friends, some of whom travelled from as far as South Africa.
But an early morning theft has left the couple devastated.
The Maynards were robbed of thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment and irreplaceable gifts – including their wedding video.
The newlyweds left their wedding venue at O¯ haupo and drove to Novotel Tainui Hamilton in the city centre.
They arrived at the hotel just after midnight on Sunday and left their wedding gifts, one of the bride’s wedding dresses, shoes and camera gear in the vehicle.
But it wasn’t until the next day they realised their vehicle, a 2007 blue Mazda Atenza station wagon, and everything in it had been stolen.
‘‘Waking up as a married woman, I did not really expect to have news like that given to me,’’ Krenalyia said.
‘‘I was in denial at first, I think. We honestly thought that it was just a mishap, but unfortunately it wasn’t.
‘‘It really hit home when we were with close family and friends that we had lost everything.’’
Police confirmed they received a report around noon on Sunday that a car had been stolen from the hotel sometime during the early hours of that day.
They later released a photo of a man and a woman they were looking to identify.
The Mazda, number plate GYS875, was still missing, a statement said.
Krenalyia’s cousin travelled from Australia to take video of the wedding and spent hours getting footage.
The couple had a photographer from Wellington take wedding photos, so they’ll still have those, but the video was particularly special to them.
‘‘My grandfather is 91. There was video footage of my grandfather with his nine grandchildren, the first time we’ve been together in 11 years and we may not get that opportunity again.
‘‘We can’t sit down with our grandchildren later on and show them videos of their grandparents, aunties and uncles. You know, we have nothing.
‘‘As a couple, walking into our first day as husband and wife, you don’t wish that upon your worst enemy.’’
‘‘I was in denial at first, I think. We honestly thought that it was just a mishap, but unfortunately it wasn’t. Krenalyia Maynard
A hotel spokeswoman said staff were working with police and are providing support to the Maynards.
She said she was not able to share any other details of what happened as it’s an ongoing investigation.
The camera equipment is said to be worth around $10,000 and was stored in three black cases in the boot of the wagon.
One of the bride’s wedding dresses was also in the boot, as well as her shoes and a large cardboard box with wedding gifts.
‘‘We had family and friends make customised Mr and Mrs Maynard plates.
‘‘Torrence’s company had a stainless steel ‘Mr and Mrs’ laser cut for us. We had custom-made candles with our names on them, apparently – I never got to see them.
‘‘Our neighbours bought us crystal glasses and Torrence’s mum made a cross stitch for us. It took her 300 hours over six months to do that.
‘‘We don’t care about the material things, it’s the thought and the effort that everybody else went to to provide that for us.’’
Yesterday afternoon, the couple were heading to the airport to farewell the cousin who shot the video footage for them.
He is said to be gutted, as he was starting his own business and could have used it to demonstrate his skills.