Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern quietly exchanged vows with her longtime partner, Clarke Gayford, during a private ceremony on Saturday. The intimate affair was held near Ardern’s hometown of Waikato. Ardern, 43, and Gayford, 45, have been a couple since 2012.
In a joyful celebration, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford have officially gotten married in a private ceremony at Craggy Range Winery on the beautiful east coast of North Island. Originally planning to tie the knot in 2022, the couple faced delays due to Covid restrictions.
This news comes just a few months after Ardern’s surprise resignation in November 2023. In her final speech in parliament last January, she humorously urged her partner, “Let’s finally get married.”
The couple, known for their privacy and dedication to family life, opted for a small. The intimate ceremony was attended by close friends and family, including Ardern’s successor, Chris Hipkins.
Jacinda Ardern, 43, looked elegant in a fitted ivory dress by designer Juliette Hogan and Mount Maunganui designer Chaos and Harmony shoes. Accompanied by her daughter Neve and Clarke Gayford, 45. Ardern walked down the aisle with a long veil and a white cascading bouquet.
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Neve, their five-year-old daughter, wore a charming dress made from fabric from her grandmother Laurell Ardern’s wedding dress, adding a sentimental touch to the occasion.
The ceremony, set against the stunning Hawke’s Bay, included a five-minute wedding speech by Ardern, expressing gratitude to the attendees. Pictures from the bride’s hairdresser revealed that guests enjoyed “paua and snapper” rolls during the celebration.
Jacinda Ardern is globally recognized for her distinctive leadership. She served as New Zealand’s prime minister for over five years. However, she earned special praise for her response to the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings.
Since stepping down from public office, Ardern has taken up three fellowships at Harvard University. She also becomes a trustee for Prince William’s Earthshot Prize. In addition, she is now a special envoy for the Christchurch Call, a network addressing online terrorist and extremist content.