Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern marries long-term partner at stunning winery on the country's North Island
Felicity Jean Photography via AP
- Jacinda Ardern tied the knot with her long-term partner, Clarke Gayford, on Saturday.
- They planned to marry in 2022 but had to cancel due to COVID-19 restrictions Ardern imposed as PM.
- The couple have been together for 10 years and have a five-year-old daughter.
Jacinda Ardern married her long-term partner Clarke Gayford on Saturday, almost five years after they announced their engagement.
The New York Times reported that the wedding between the former prime minister of New Zealand and the television presenter took place at the Craggy Range Winery, which is on the east coast of the country's North Island.
A series of official wedding portraits have been released to the news media, showing Ardern, 43, and Gayford, 47, smiling while posing among the vineyards.
According to the BBC, Ardern's ivory halterneck gown was designed by Juliette Hogan, an Auckland-based designer who is reportedly a friend of the ex-PM.
Felicity Jean Photography via AP
Gayford wore a black suit with a boutonniere that matched the flowers in Ardern's bouquet.
Per the BBC, Ardern gave a five-minute speech to those in attendance, which numbered about 50-75 people, New Zealand outlet Stuff reported.
The nuptials come after several years of media speculation on when they would walk down the aisle following their engagement in 2019.
They previously planned to marry in January 2022, but that ceremony was canceled after Ardern — who was then in office — imposed COVID-19 restrictions on gatherings.
Mark Baker via AP
The couple have been dating for 10 years and have a five-year-old daughter, Neve Ardern-Gayford, together.
Ardern was the prime minister of New Zealand from 2017 until January 2023, when she shocked supporters by announcing her resignation.
At the time, she cited "sheer exhaustion" from guiding the country through the pandemic as one of the reasons she was stepping away from politics.
When she resigned from her post, she jokingly referenced her long engagement to Gayford, saying: "To Clarke, let's finally get married."