Long-distance love-affair leads to church

Andrew Mathieson
FRESHWATER Creek is barely a speck on the map.
But for one Japanese couple, the town’s quaint Lutheran church has certainly been on the radar.
Hideto Morimoto, 29, and bride Tomoko, 34, had been eyeing the traditional bluestone building with a country-style picket fence since last year for their special day.
“The church was old, small and it was cute,” Tomoko said.
“It’s nothing like we have at home.”
The novelty value of saying wedding vows in such an obscure, far-flung destination also appealed to the couple.
“It’s a place where none of our friends have ever got married before,” Tomoko said.
The couple signed marriage papers in July at registry in their Japanese home town. But the lovebirds decided to fly more than 8000 kilometres to tie the knot for their idyllic ceremony on Tuesday.
“We did it for something interesting, a bit of fun, and also because I have family (sister) here,” Tomoko said.
The church, outfits, flowers and right down to sending photos from magazines for hairstyles on the day was intricately planned with family at Belmont for months.
However, a vintage car ride to church for her wedding was a surprise, Tomoko admitted.