An Auckland-based couple has this morning celebrated the legalisation of same sex marriage in New Zealand by saying "I do" in an Air New Zealand aircraft at 30,000 feet. Lynley Bendall and Ally Wanikau, who have been together almost 14 years, wed onboard a special Air New Zealand flight from Queenstown to Auckland. They made their vows in front of friends and family, including their children Javarn (9), Maycee (7) and Mikaere (6), and Ally's son Damon. The pair exchanged pounamu in place of traditional wedding bands before being pronounced as officially wed in front of American actor and marriage equality campaigner Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who recently married his long-term partner Justin Mikita. The couples' children were given bow ties from Ferguson and Mikita's charity Tie The Knot which raises funds for the promotion of marriage equality. "It's been an absolute pleasure to be able to celebrate this historic and joyous moment with Lynley and Ally... Marriage equality is something very dear to both Justin and me," says Fergusson, who plays one half of a gay couple in the TV series Modern Family. Following the in-flight ceremony a pop-up choir performed the Maori love song Pokarekare Ana which was also sung in the New Zealand Parliament following the legalisation of same sex marriage in April. Bendall says she and Wanikau have waited a long time to make their 13-year union official and she's ecstatic to be able to call herself a newlywed. "To be married at 30,000 feet beneath strings of fairy lights with our children, friends and family as witnesses makes an already memorable day that much more special. It was surreal to have Jesse play a part in the ceremony too - we're big fans of Modern Family!" Air New Zealand Chief People Officer Lorraine Murphy says the onboard ceremony was an unforgettable way to mark the law change. "The atmosphere onboard was incredibly festive and the applause following the couple's vows was heartfelt. It was a great celebration of New Zealand's diversity." The couple flys out of New Zealand tonight for their honeymoon at a Palm Springs, USA, resort, courtesy of Air New Zealand.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 19th August 2013 - 11:21am