At First Sight

When Tayla Harding and Max Ferguson-Hook first met in 2020, it wasn’t exactly a typical setup, but nothing about their early courtship is. The world was only just easing out of lockdown, and gatherings were limited to open-air meetups. It was a mutual friend, who unknowingly sparked the start of their relationship by inviting them both to her birthday in London Fields. “We hit it off immediately,” Tayla recalls. “A few days later we went on our first date and Max told me he wasn’t looking for anything serious, he’d just come out of an eight-year relationship,” she pauses. “Less than a month later, we were in lockdown again and he’d moved into the flat I shared with my sister. The rest was history.”

The intensity of those early days, of being thrown together so quickly in the unusual circumstances of lockdown, only deepened their bond. “We were obsessed with each other,” Tayla laughs. “It really sped everything up. We got to soak up that super loved-up phase without any distractions.”

“The day I met Tayla, I was hooked by her funny and cheeky character, her warm smile and big open eyes.”

Five years and two children later, Tayla and Max now live in Auckland, in Tayla’s childhood home. Their lives have shifted continents and evolved into a vibrant, sometimes chaotic, deeply rooted kind of love. From navigating the early stages of parenthood to uprooting their life in London to settle in New Zealand, theirs is a partnership that appears to have been forged in resilience, humour and a sense of adventure.

"What makes us work?" Tayla considers. “We support each other in so many ways. There’s a lot of respect and a lot of laughter. We’re best friends, really.” Max agrees: “The day I met Tayla, I was hooked by her funny and cheeky character, her warm smile and big open eyes. Today, I’m in awe of how massive her heart has grown for our kids — and how much love, patience, and care she gives them.”

Their relationship is a mix of substance and spontaneity, lightness and deep understanding. They share values, interests and a taste for the whimsical, whether that’s dancing in the kitchen after the kids go to bed or squeezing into Max’s campervan for a last-minute trip. “Even if the van breaks down, we play cards and hang out,” Tayla says. “It's always really lovely.”

Only a year into their relationship, Tyla and Max fell pregnant with their daughter, Maggie. An unexpected development. As Tayla explains, “we were already certain we were going to be together and have children, but it came a bit quicker than we had expected,” she laughs. “A happy surprise!” Then, just eight weeks after the birth, on a trip back to New Zealand, Max asked Tayla’s dad for her hand in marriage.

The whole thing, Tayla tells me, was another surprise. “We were both still feeling rough from a stomach bug that had landed Max in hospital on a drip,” she says, “But he insisted on us going for a walk,” she laughs, “he was persistent.” They ended up at Island Bay, a special childhood spot of Tayla’s and the place where her grandfather’s ashes were cast. As Tayla stood taking in the view, Max got down on one knee behind her. “He gave me a little tap to get my attention. I turned around, saw him, and he said something, no idea what, but I said yes of course.” The ring was a Seb Brown piece, a designer Tayla had long admired. “It was a lovely private proposal.”

When it came time to plan the wedding, Tayla envisioned a colourful, relaxed and, importantly, sustainable celebration. Though she’d always imagined a beach wedding in New Zealand, they opted for a Scottish venue to balance their two homelands. The Free Company, a restored family farm outside Edinburgh, offered exactly the kind of thoughtful, local atmosphere they were after. “They grow their own food, rear animals on-site, and even have flowers hanging from the ceilings arranged by the owners’ mum. It just felt right,” Tayla says.

Rain on the day forced a last-minute shift, moving the ceremony from an open field to a cosy barn, but with the windows thrown open to the landscape, the whole event still felt deeply connected to nature. “It wasn’t the plan, but it turned out beautifully,” Tayla says. Her sister Jamie-Lee handled the floral design, draping blooms across tables and down the aisle. Their guests were greeted with personalised matchboxes and handwritten name cards, and the colour palette, a vibrant mix of red, pink and pops of bright tones, reflected Tayla’s vision for something uplifting and non-traditional.

Her wedding look also adhered to her sustainable ethos. She sourced her crinkled tulle Watters gown secondhand via StillWhite and wore a pair of fun Simone Rocha sneakers with pearl embellishments. Her accessories included heirloom pearls from her great-grandmother and a dramatic chapel-length veil by Britten that offered the perfect touch of drama. “It was my only chance to wear a veil so I wanted a massive, dramatic one,” she tells me, smiling. For the evening cèilidh (a traditional, high speed Scottish dance that all the guests were invited to get involved with) Tayla changed into a sparkly mini by Ilta with a ‘60s-style bouffant and silk socks.

Max wore a kilt in the Ferguson tartan, nodding to his Scottish roots. Their ceremony, a humanist service, was peppered with personal touches. Max’s sister Brie sang a waiata (a Māori song), Tayla’s sister read a poem about their love story, and they drank from the quaich, a traditional Scottish sharing cup. Their daughter Maggie wandered through the vows, offering raisins.

The music was a key part of the day. They danced down the aisle to Rod Stewart’s ‘Do Ya Think I’m Sexy,’ under a flurry of floral confetti, and had their first dance to Arctic Monkeys’ ‘There’d Better Be a Mirrorball,’ a song Max had worked on professionally. “We even took a dance class for it,” Tayla says. “It was so out of our comfort zone but so fun.” Looking back, Tayla says the ceremony was her favourite moment: “It was full of love and simplicity.” Max agrees: “It was one of those days where everything aligned.”

For Max, it is Tayla’s wit and intelligence that first piqued his interest, “but it’s her deep kindness and care that I’m in awe of every day.” Tayla, for her part, credits Max’s humour, his ability to fully commit to things he loves, and his thoughtful way of looking after their family. “He’s so passionate about what he does,” she says. “And he’s just an amazing dad.”

As for what they’ve learned so far? “Patience,” Tayla says. “And the importance of having your own interests, while supporting each other’s. Also, don’t forget to have fun. That one matters.”

With their second child, Ted, born last year, the couple are ready to slow down, embrace the rhythm of home life, and savour the quieter moments. “It’s been a whirlwind five years,” Tayla says. “We’re exhausted but happy. We just want to enjoy each other and this beautiful country.”

For Tayla and Max, it seems, love is less about spectacle and more about presence, the shared memories at home, the time spent with family. And from where I'm standing, it is their dedication to making even the most ordinary moments feel extraordinary, that will continue to underpin their story.