Love Stories - Sophie + Kaleni

How did you meet? We ran into each other a few times at high school at a few gatherings. I actually remember Kaleni introducing himself to me at a friends place before a party I must have been about 15 years old and he was like this massive guy (probably hasn't grown since he was 13) and said Hi and fobbed him off because I was so intimidated lol but he is actually just a big teddy bear! It wasn’t until we were at a mutual friends 21st that we actually starting chatting. I was living in Christchurch finishing off my last year at Teachers College and he had just returned from playing rugby in Japan. We caught up, had a pretty good night cutting shapes on the d-floor at  the Loney (where many Southland love stories will have started no doubt) and I guess the rest was history!


How did you know that your partner was the right one for you? So you know those corny movies you watch when the main character walks into a room, and their eyes meet and it feels like they are the only one in the room? That actually happened to us. I remember walking into the room where everyone was and I looked straight at Kaleni sitting on the couch, my stomach dropped, I felt butterflies it was insane - that is a moment I will never forget.

Tell me three things you love about your partner.He is the most amazing dad to our two children, his confidence in himself and that massive smile!

What are things about your partner that drives you a little crazy — things that only you could love. OMG- everything is a competition, from who has the best meal when we go out for dinner to who has the best music on their spotify playlist. - I don’t always win but he will never be able to beat me at Battleships haha

How did the proposal happen? I actually did not expect to get married, we have always done things ‘backwards or ourway, having children first and buying a home, marriage wasn’t something I had to do because I felt like we already had made a commitment to each other. After one of our very close friends weddings in Arrowtown, the whole drive home we chatted about what we would do if we got married, then who we would invite and when it would be, so we kind of just decided we would do it and surprise our friends and family with a Save the Date!

LIttle did I know that Kaleni was scheming behind the scenes and at his 30th birthday  I had planned for him (at the Loney of course) he proposed to me in front of our closest friends! I was so surprised I couldn't even say yes, just OMG !

If Hollywood made a story about you, which actors would play each of you? Mmm I would say The Rock for Kaleni, annnnd defo Eva Mendes