Everyone knows that the finer things in life happen over time.

That much is true for Herbert Punivalu and Rodania Levi as they tied the knot yesterday during an intimate church service at Levili.

With their love for one another brewing for 14 years, it will only get finer now with the start of their new journey together as man and wife.

Family and friends emitted mixed emotions of joy and excitement at the ceremony as they watched the vows being said, rings being exchanged, “I do’s” being spoken and then the kiss of transition into husband and wife. But how did such a fairy tale love story begin?

“We met through my cousin who went to the same school as him,” Rodania said.

Giggling in reminiscence of her love story with Herbert she continued.

“So the story goes… I saw him walking on the side of the road and I knew that he was the guy I wanted to be with.”

The couple showed patience with their love waiting only until Rodania finished her studies before moving to the next stage of their relationship.

“He was actually waiting for me to finish studying in Auckland,” the happy bride said with a smile. “He then proposed to me in a restaurant… he didn’t get on his knee; he just gave me the box and said a whole bunch of nice things but because I was unprepared and shocked I didn’t hear any of it.”

But Herbert also had his story to tell.

“She asked me out through her cousin… she doesn’t remember that,” he said teasingly.

“She stalked me in front of the library and then she got my number through my friend who is her cousin; that is the truth and that is how it all started.”

Asked about the highlight of their relationship, the groom said there were too many to count.

“We had so many happy moments together and I just can’t say which of them the highlight was,” he said. “We went to my cousin’s wedding in Sydney together and that’s what sort of sparked our relationship; we moved in together about three years ago and that’s when I found out she was my forever.”

He added that he is extremely excited to be with his new wife for the rest of his life.

“I am very excited to start this new journey together,” he said.

“I am excited to start our own family and our own family traditions together; I also can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with the woman that stalked me back in the days.”

But as all men find out… the wife always has the last say. “I may have stalked him in the beginning but he’s the one who stalked me the rest of my life,” Rodania said giggling.