City couple off to Vegas for 'Elvis' wedding

JOHN HAWKINS / 137572

WE DO: Spontaneous Invercargill couple Leanne Liggett and Michael Hartstonge are marrying in Las Vegas on Valentine's Day.

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Michael Hartstonge often joked with Leanne Liggett that they should get married by an Elvis impersonator in Las Vegas.

On Valentines Day, Las Vegas time tomorrow, they are doing just that.

The Invercargill couple made a spontaneous decision on Thursday night to enter an online auction in which the highest bidder received a Las Vegas wedding package, complete with an Elvis impersonator walking them down the aisle and singing for them, return flights for four people and four nights' accommodation.

Having bid about $3500 less than cost price and winning the Air New Zealand Grabaseat auction, Mr Hartstonge promptly got down on one knee and proposed to his partner of six years.

She said yes.

Excited and rushed, they left for Las Vegas with 3-month-old daughter Sarah and two friends, acting as a supporting cast at the wedding, yesterday.

"I had always joked that I wanted to go to Las Vegas and get married by an Elvis impersonator I would rather do that than have a big pompous ceremony," Mr Hartstonge said.

"I am stoked."

Ms Liggett, who already had a ring and wedding dress in anticipation of one day walking down the aisle with Mr Hartstonge, said he had been a hard man to pin down.

"It's highly exciting; I have been waiting a very long time. It was about getting over the last hurdle, and that was him," she said.

Mr Hartstonge quipped that a Las Vegas wedding on Valentines Day was payback time.

"It makes up for five years of no Valentine's presents from me."

His mother, Bernie Burke, said yesterday she was still laughing over the sudden wedding announcement.

"I love them to bits and as long as they are happy, I am happy."

Ms Liggett's mother, Colleen, said she had always hoped they would get married, but didn't expect it to be this weekend.

"I am just sorry we aren't going to be there. But we will be thinking about them."