1. TELL US YOUR SIMPLE LOVE STORY

RF: We met at a mutual friend’s birthday party in the city. It was dress up and Tana was wearing a Pikachu costume which started our conversation and led to us talking for the rest of the night and hanging by each other’s side, I really felt at ease with him. “It wasn’t love at first sight exactly but it was familiarity. Something like oh, hello, it’s you. It’s going to be you” – (Mhairi Mcfarlane) We were friends for about 9 months, I already knew he was going to be my husband and I was the frontrunner in love, I patiently waiting for Tana’s feelings to develop. Until one day he expressed his interest! Soon after I invited him over for brunch. Afterwards we decided to relax in the hammock out back where his hand touched mine and that was the pivotal point! He asked me to be his girlfriend before the first Kiss shortly after. He asked me to marry him a year later and we married in the Melbourne Botanical gardens after our year of engagement. Our wedding was small and intimate and included a Samoan Siva (traditional Samoan dance)

TF: I had seen Rina at church once or twice but only met her at a mutual friend’s birthday. Being from New Zealand we found common ground and we got talking right from the start of the night and by the end we were friends. I found her attractive but felt she was out of mu league. We stayed in contact after that night and hung out a lot more. Rina came up with the grand idea for charity to walk from Geelong to Frankston and invited me to join with a couple of others. From that experience my feelings for her passed the friendship level (because there’s heaps of levels of friendships) I eventually found out that she specifically came up with this fundraising idea as it meant she could spend the most time with me as she already had the hots for me. We started dating soon after and got engaged exactly a year later. We married exactly a year after that. Our Wedding day was the best day of my life. We got married at the Tennyson lawn at Botanical Gardens and reception at the Boatbuilders Yard Southbank. The venue was so unique with its glass walls, we entertained our guests cocktail style and managed to speak to everyone we invited.

 

 

2. DESCRIBE ONE WAY YOU EACH INTENTIONALLY GROW YOUR LOVE?

TF: When the weather is decent, and the work day is not too strenuous, ‘I’d’ like to suggest going for a short walk with Florence in the pram (but Rina initiates this all the time). I do genuinely love this time, as ideas, dreams, possible holidays are tossed around. I feel if we have the same life dreams and same life goals our love will flourish especially when we have something to work towards.

RF: Once our daughter goes down to bed at night. We have been trying to have at least some quality time at night which is technology free. Instead of just gazing into our phones or the TV we have been more mindful of each other’s feelings and switching off. This gives us more time for love in our relationship as we can communicate face-to-face, cuddle and have dinner together without any interruptions. Lately I’ve been into making raw desserts, so we’ve been tasting them together while we debrief on our days. It’s fun to see what Tana enjoys and if he can guess the ingredients!

 

3. SHARE YOUR MOST RECENT, OR FAVOURITE GO-TO DATE

TF: We enjoy a drive, either to the Dandenong mountains and choosing a nice cafe to have a break at or driving to the Mornington Peninsula to a winery to have lunch. Either way we enjoy the moments spent togther in the car because these locations are about 40min to an hour away.

RF: A typical date for us would be a Friday night at home on the couch, some takeaway, wine and a movie. Its the most relaxing thing curling up on the couch and unwinding after a long week. We also love to brunch on Saturday mornings if we arnt to busy with other commitments

 

4. SHARE YOUR BEST PIECE OF ADVICE TO KEEP A MARRIAGE THRIVING

TF: Listening! and not just acting like I’m listening but taking it all in and giving her advice where I can. I don’t always have the answers but just being there to support Rina’s concerns and what shes going through makes all the difference as she feels supported and knows that I stand by her.

RF: Never letting the sun go down on your wrath! This piece of advice was actually given to us by a married couple we admire just before we were married. We took it on board thinking it would be great to live by. We have had a few long nights to say the least but we have never gone to bed without things being resolved between us.

 

 

5. HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN BALANCE BETWEEN BEING A HUSBAND/WIFE NOW THAT YOU’RE PARENTS?

We have found it hard getting ‘us’ time with our little one breaking in and out of routine. But we do try to have the last few hours of the night with just the two of us and making the short amount of time quality time! This also means asking questions and taking interest in each and our days. It’s so easy to fall into talking about Florence so finding that balance is a balancing act in it self, but we do know that our time is shared now and we wouldn’t change it for the world.