Fifteen-year-old Joan Yeo, of Invercargill, caught the attention of Tuatapere-born Arthur Warren on the St Mary’s Hall dance floor, but it was a ride in his car that would initiate their 65-year marriage.
"She was at the dance and of course you had to go pick your partner.
"So you get round to the last dance, and decide how do you go home?
"She said, ‘oh, have you got a car?’ And I said, ‘yeah’.
"She said, ‘oh, what sort of car is it?’ And I said, ‘a Ford convertible’ and yes, that swayed it," Mr Warren said.
Mrs Warren’s version of their rapid courtship may differ, but her discovery that the "Ford convertible" was in fact a 1926 Model T did not slow her affection for her Ford man — they were engaged three years later.
"We met on the dance floor.
"I was 15 and-a-half when we met, I got engaged at 18 and married at 20," Mrs Warren said.
The young couple’s nuptials were held at St Paul’s Church in Invercargill on February 6, 1960, on the same day as Mrs Warren’s 20th birthday.
More than 100 family and friends attended the wedding, but before the couple’s big day, a local race event held at the same time threatened to decrease the number of guests attending.
"It was hot and it was the day of the Teretonga races.
"A lot of my friends and relations from up north came down to watch the racing and were a bit wild about it [the wedding]," Mr Warren said.
The groom himself almost marred the day’s proceedings by entering the church with a cigarette hanging perilously from his mouth.
"The reverend marched me outside and told me there was no way we were getting married with me smoking inside," he said.
Even a wayward sparrow fluttering around the church rafters could not deter the happy couple from enjoying their wedding day.
The deft hand of Arthur’s "second in command" groomsman managed to stop the scurrilous bird from ruining the ceremony.
Joan Yeo finally got to exchange vows with her beau, and no more mishaps would hinder their wedding breakfast at the Scottish Hall and wedding dance at the Band Hall.
"It was a lovely, lovely wedding day," Mrs Warren said.
"We got married at 3 o’clock in the afternoon and had our photos taken down in the Rose Gardens. Arthur’s father played the violin."
Her husband attributed their enduring 65-year relationship to "good meals", while his wife credited it to having "a strong family".
"Everyone has their arguments, and ups and downs.
"Our family’s kept us together."
The couple will celebrate their 65th anniversary this week with a meal surrounded by their two children, four grandchildren and "six and a-half" great-grandchildren.
