IT takes faith to stumble and build upon a great relationship — and former Miss Hibiscus Nanise Rainima is a testament to this.
A month ago, Nanise also Nani, a flight attendant with the national carrier wed Ratu Sakiusa Naliva in a fairytale traditional wedding setting at the chiefly village of Sorokoba in Ba.
Their journey to courtship started via a Christian album recording in which both Ratu Saki and Nani were invited to partake in towards the end of 2020.
Two years down the line and after they both reaffirmed their status that God had anchored and profoundly declared their relationship; they sealed their correlation in an anticipated unique traditional wedding attended by loved ones from both sides of their families.
“I’m simply thankful to have a life partner like Tu Saki,” said Nani who hails from Nakelo in Tailevu.
“One thing I had asked my mum when she met my dad was;
“Mom, how did you know Ta was the one? Her answer was simple she said “I just knew”.
“It wasn’t until I met Tu Saki and started to get to know him and had this overwhelming sense of certainty that he was the one. Like my mum, I just knew too and I felt peace.
“In my heart I thanked God because I didn’t settle for just anyone before until I was confident Tu Saki was the one God had for me.
“In essence, waiting for the one God has for you is not overrated, I’m 30 this year and this has blessed me more than I could ever imagine.”
Tu Saki is a medical missionary at Three Angels Missionary College in Nacilau, Rakiraki and despite both their busy work schedules, the couple always find time to be with each other and do things together and one they did a lot while courting was spending hours at the park just sitting and talking.
Outfitted in a stunning three-piece masi kuvui made in Vatulele and her traditional Fijian buiniga, Nani recalled exactly the last words her dad, pastor Maika Rainima shared with her when walking her down the aisle.
A rather emotional encounter too in the wedding was when her brothers walked her to where they traditionally gave her away to her husband’s family. She described it as “the most emotional and beautiful moment”.
Burgundy has always been a colour that expresses a part of Nani and a part of her that was always kept hidden. That explained the theme at the newly wed’s reception.
During the reception, the bride wore a hand-painted dress made by Hupfeld Hoerder with a mixture of Burgundy, Rose Gold and White colours. Her husband a white shirt and a Burgundy-coloured pants.
The celebration also included the Tevutevu, iTataunaki, Kali Cucu and presentation of gifts for the vanua.
“If we could put a list of people here to thank it would be an endless list of so many people that have contributed to us and to our wedding. There were so many we can’t even put a number to it.
“But we would love to acknowledge our parents. For raising us both in the light of God’s word and teaching us to always put God first and seek Him first before anything else,” Nani remarked.
