The Art of Us

When Lucy Hopkins and Hikalu Clarke look back on the beginning of their story, they laugh at how unlikely it all seemed. They were students then, crossing paths in the Fine Arts department. “Hikalu was a terrible student and I was always in class,” Lucy says, “so we were kind of ships in the night until we just ended up hanging out one time. Sparks flew pretty quick.”

Both had just come out of relationships when things “cracked off,” as Lucy puts it, and what began as friendship soon shifted. One memory in particular still makes them smile. “One of my favourite memories is moonwalking down our uni halls late one night before a deadline,” she says. “We both fondly remember that as the ‘oohhh, I think I like you more than a friend’ moment.” A few weeks later, after an exhibition, they kissed for the first time at Pony Club. “The rest,” Lucy shrugs, “is history."

Thirteen years later, they live together in central Auckland with their tailless cat, Noodle. In that time, their lives have bent and stretched across the globe. “Both of us have had some cool opportunities around the world through our respective work, so there was a bit of time spent without one another,” Lucy says (she is a brand manager for three New Zealand-owned companies and Hikalu is an artist and art director). “But we always saw these as a means to link up and fit in a holiday with one another.”

Their engagement, hilariously, was as far from planned as possible, which Lucy tells me made it all the more memorable. “It was a Friday night after work and I was happily winding down with a glass of my trusty $10 Church Hill Sav, the same one I’d used for a ragu earlier in the week. Multi-purpose, right?” Lucy laughs. She then explains that she was mid-burpee-demonstration, showing off a new move she had learnt at the gym, when Hikalu asked her to pause and look at the view. Dark rainclouds were streaking across the sunset. “Next thing I know, he’s giving me this little speech, drops down on one knee, and asks if I want to be his wife.” The ring was just as singular: a vintage art deco piece with twenty-three diamonds and a gold band, bought second-hand. “I love the idea that my ring had a history before us,” Lucy tells me. “It’s also just so unique.”

“I love the idea that my ring had a history before us, it’s also just so unique.”

The vision for the wedding was unfussy: “All we wanted was to have fun,” Lucy says. “For us, weddings are about celebrating the love of your relationship with people who have been part of your lives.” And so, they planned everything themselves, with the help of a small army of creative friends. “Our friends were our wedding band, decorators, beer suppliers, and celebrants. Our call for help was definitely answered.” Props were hauled down from Auckland to Whangamatā in a Ford Transit, flowers were arranged by mothers and girlfriends and fabric was rigged to beams by guests perched precariously on scaffolding. “A bit haphazard at times,” Lucy admits, “but we made it without injury.”

The result was a wedding that was heartfelt, inventive and deeply communal. Guests played a rowdy game of “Who Knows Lucy or Hikalu Better,” with a Whangamatā meat pack as the prize. “Shout out to our friend Sly for modelling the prize with his powerful strut,” Lucy says. The dancefloor carried the night into the early hours, filled with 1980s anthems, singalongs, and a first dance made up on the spot to Love Is in the Air.

The ceremony itself, however, carried the greatest weight. “After having said ‘I do’ and walking down the aisle… nothing will be quite as special or thrilling as that moment,” Lucy says. “We were on cloud nine.”

Their attire captured both tradition and individuality. Lucy wore a vintage gown from Love James with a custom veil designed by her friend Nicole from Oosterom, before changing into a second, 1980s-inspired dress “that was the best to dance in and a piece I will 100 percent wear again.” Hikalu wore a custom suit by close friend Wilson Ong, styled with piped leather Lemaire shoes and a pearl and gold pocket pin passed down from his Jiji. “Wilson is one of our best friends — and honorary ring boy,” Lucy says. “To have him make the suit and style Hikalu felt right.”

For Lucy and Hikalu, the day was not about perfection but joy. “It’s hard to pick out moments because the whole thing was so special,” Lucy says. “Nothing went wrong and everyone was having the best time. We kept reminding ourselves not to get worked up over small details, which helped a lot.”

Looking back, their only regret was not having their photographer for the entire night. “For budget reasons we only did part of the day. We love all our photos from Poet Pictures, but for anyone planning a wedding — make sure you get your photographer all day!”

Much like their wedding, their relationship appears to be built on independence and togetherness in equal measure. “We’re still pretty independent,” Lucy says. “It’s not a case of ‘where one goes, the other follows.’ We love spending time together, but we also value doing our own thing.” For Hikalu, Lucy’s “bright light” and her compassionate, hard-working nature continue to inspire him. For Lucy, it’s Hikalu’s humour. “He can always make me laugh. He lets me be my most silly and authentic self. He’s my number one supporter.”

After thirteen years, the lessons they’ve carried are profound in their simplicity. “We’ve had to learn how to communicate,” Lucy says. “Working through the challenges makes the good things even better.” And for these two, the future is less about a set plan and more about a shared curiosity: “We don’t know what it looks like yet — but we’re happy doing it together. Although we really want to buy an old house in Japan near Hikalu’s hometown. One day.”

Because what Lucy and Hikalu have built — through art, laughter, compromise and a shared sense of fun — is a life that feels entirely their own.