PHOTO: Jacinda Ardern. FILE
Preparations for Jacinda Ardern‘s wedding have officially commenced, adhering to Covid-safe measures. The former New Zealand prime minister, accompanied by her mother Laurrell Ardern and friends, visited Sen Nails & Beauty in Havelock North for wedding day grooming. During her manicure, Jacinda, 43, donned a straw hat and a surgical facemask to maintain pandemic precautions.
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Clarke Gayford is seen walking after a dress rehearsal yesterday. Photo / George Heard
A witness noted that Jacinda and her mother were the sole individuals in the salon wearing masks, emphasizing the continued impact of the pandemic. In a casual black dress, Ardern discreetly exited the salon, later reported to have been escorted to an awaiting vehicle.
Prior to the wedding, Jacinda celebrated her hen’s do at Hastings Distillers with a dozen friends. The $25,000-per-night Craggy Range Winery, where the ceremony is scheduled, holds significance for Ardern, who had previously dined there in 2020.
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Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern pictured with a close relative at the wedding venue. Photo / George Heard
The former New Zealand Prime Minister did her best to disguise herself during her manicure – wearing a straw hat and a surgical facemask (her mother Laurell is pictured right)
The stunning $25,000-per-night grounds of Craggy Range Winery where the former New Zealand prime minister will wed fiance Clarke Gayford on Saturday. A tent set up on site above
Ardern and a friend wore matching hats
The wedding, initially postponed in 2022 due to Covid-19 restrictions, is set to take place at the renowned winery on Saturday. Notably, fellow Labour Party MP Kieran McAnulty, a longtime friend of Ardern, is also getting married this weekend.
Ardern, 42, has long been a fan of the vineyard, and in 2020 was pictured alongside the team of Michelin star chefs at the winery’s two-hatted restaurant
In a bizarre twist, Ardern’s longtime friend and fellow Labour Party MP Kieran McAnulty (right) has also set this weekend aside to marry his fiancée Gia Garrick
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Former Prime Minister Dame Jacinda Ardern is expected to wear a creation by leading Kiwi designer Juliette Hogan, who also designed this dress she wore at the Earthshot Awards in 2023. Photo / AP
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A lone protester near the wedding venue shortly after 9am. Photo / George Heard
Despite McAnulty’s pre-booked wedding date, mutual friends have reportedly accepted invitations to Ardern and Clarke Gayford’s celebration. Ardern and Gayford, 47, first met in 2012, with their wedding delayed due to Covid-related constraints.
The picturesque Craggy Range Winery, situated between Te Mata Peak and the Tukituki River, offers on-site accommodation and serves as the backdrop for the highly anticipated event. Jacinda Ardern, once celebrated globally for her leadership, faced challenges, including the Christchurch terrorist attack and the Covid-19 response, ultimately resigning in January the previous year.