It was a touch rugby tournament that first brought them together, and after four years of courting they sealed their union with love last Friday. 

Hailing from Apia, groom, Graeme Tuato tied the knot with bride, Leilani Taufao, of Alafua, Lotopa and Salamumu before family and friends at the T.A.T.T.E. Building in town.

The wedding and its blessing by Reverend Matamua Matamua was the culmination of four years of work by the couple to keep the fire burning.

Staying close to 6,000km apart after Ms. Taufao moved to Australia from Samoa to work, the long distance did not throw their burgeoning relationship off track.

The wedding was followed by a reception that was held on the grounds of the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum.

“We first officially met at a Touch Rugby competition,” said Mrs. Tuato.

She added that after meeting they officially started dating.

“I actually ended up moving back to Australia for work and that was three or four months into the relationship," she said.

“It was not easy trust me, but I guess we have both been raised in the same kind of faith, that you know no matter what when you trust in the lord all things will happen for the good of those who believe in him."

Leilani's journey has been a learning process, especially when maintaining a long distance relationship which enabled the couple to learn and be able to grow together.

“One thing that I really do see in him is the amount of respect and how much he does for others, not just for himself and that was something that I was always raised with so that was something I could identify with," she said.

“I would say our faith in God is one thing that really helped our relationship because without God I don’t think we would even reach today so all glory to Him.”

The couple added that they chose Samoa as their wedding destination because all their families live in Samoa.

“I have a lot of family that couldn’t make it here today but at the end of the day my mother lives here, bringing my dad and the rest of the family here is amazing,” she said.

Mr. Tuato added that he chose his wife because she was the one for him.

“I thank God for giving me the one which is my beautiful wife," he said.

“There are so many reasons why I love her such as commitment within family, she’s a smart girl, she’s a strong girl and she’s a loving person, she loves everybody."

The couple added that getting married last Friday felt different.

“It feels different you know, you are moving to the next step in your life, you have to be more matured,” Mr. Tuato added.