WEDDING BELLS FOR ARDEN

New Zealand’s former prime minster, Jacinda Arden, has married her longtime partner, Clarke Gayford.

Ardern and Gayford originally planned to be married in 2022, but their plans got put on hold after an outbreak of the omicron coronavirus variant. (Felicity Jean Photography/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)

Their original wedding plans were set for 2022 but was postponed by an outbreak of the omicron coronavirus variant.

The former leader and TV Host were engaged for five years before the private ceremony on Saturday (13-01) at a vineyard on New Zealand’s North Island.

Arden wore a sleeveless, ivory cowl-neck halter gown by New Zealand fashion designer Juliette Hogan, and her hair was styled into a chignon by celebrity hairdresser Tane Tomoana. Gayford wore a black Zambesi suit and white shirt.

Designer Juliette Hogan created Ardern’s dress, having supplied the former PM with several outfits over the course of her political career. Meanwhile, Gayford wore a custom suit courtesy of the New Zealand label Zambesi. Getty Images

Arden won international praise for her leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and the 2019 mass shootings in Christchurch, unexpectedly announced her resignation from politics a year ago.

The wedding guests Saturday included Ardern’s successor as leader of the center-left Labour Party, Chris Hipkins, and a number of other current and former lawmakers.

Since quitting politics, Ardern has joined Prince William’s environmental charity and started a new global role combating online extremism.

Credit: The Washington Post