Pictures: Jo Currie.
It’s been a big month for Antonia Robinson. Not only has the talented actress won fans following her powerhouse performance as damaged teen Sophie in the local box-office smash Tinā, but she has also tied the knot, marrying mechanical engineer Josh Eaton.
“I can’t say I recommend getting married and having a film released in the same fortnight!” the young Auckland-born star tells Woman’s Day. “I didn’t even watch the film at the Wellington premiere as it was just two nights before the wedding. While the film was playing, I returned to the hotel to do more planning, then changed back into my dress to say goodnight at the end!”
Not one to do things by halves, Antonia, 22, also grew most of the flowers for her nuptials.
She explains, “I have lots of hobbies and gardening’s my latest. So, I grew this massive garden teeming with colour at my parents’ house. Not bad for my first year of growing things!”
As to how exactly Antonia’s relationship bloomed, she met her handsome husband at a church youth group when she was 14. Although she adds, “Technically, we met when I was in my mother’s tummy. Mum dropped my brother James to be babysat with Josh’s mum when she went for a scan!”
Reflecting on their lockdown-era courtship, Antonia explains how long-distance wasn’t such a bad thing.
“We started dating in February of 2021. I’d just left high school and Josh was studying in Christchurch. In many ways, we matured as a couple, because instead of going on dates, we focused on communication.”
Antonia is also grateful to Josh, 24, for bringing balance to her life.
“Mechanical engineering is the polar opposite to acting and I love how Josh is my anchor,” she says. “His stability lets me bounce off the walls and keeps me centred.”
The pair designed Antonia’s engagement ring together, combining his great-grandmother’s ring with an ethically mined green sapphire that’s “a perfect match for Josh’s beautiful eyes”, then the big proposal came at his family bach at Opito Bay in the Coromandel on a sunny winter’s day.
Antonia recalls, “Although the bach is a tight squeeze for five and there were 15 of us, it was so emotional. Driving to the beach on the back of an old tractor for a picnic and Champagne, we both cried loads. We also saw a sign that said, ‘Make every day as great as today,’ which felt fitting.”
The actual wedding was a dream come true, she tells.
“Everything went off without a hitch, but it was such a blur of emotions. I need to write about it in my journal before it all goes out of the window.”
Surrounded by 220 of their nearest and dearest at historic St Paul’s in central Auckland, Antonia described it as a “very churchy” wedding.
She shares, “We’re both from Christian families, so there was the big white dress with a veil that Dad lifted at the altar, then Dad passed me over to Josh, who shook Dad’s hand, and Dad and I hugged. The organist played hymns and we both took communion.”
At the reception, Antonia’s musical family played classic tunes, including I Will Survive, Amy Winehouse’s Valerie and Abba’s Money, Money, Money, and her brother did a saxophone solo for the couple’s first dance to Your Latest Trick by Dire Straits.
Antonia says, “My younger sister Sophia was my maid of honour. Although when we went on the hen’s do, she was only 17, which meant no bars or vineyards!”
While Josh has recently started a graduate programme with infrastructure company Ventia and Antonia works full-time as an office manager when not acting, the busy newlyweds still found time for a honeymoon.
“We spent a week tiki-touring around the South Island. It was so relaxing, with lots of sunshine and swimming,” smiles Antonia. “The second week, we went to Opito Bay to reset before returning to work.”
Although she’s now officially Mrs Antonia Eaton, she admits she’s still coming to terms with being a married woman.
She laughs, “I can wrap my head around having a husband, but calling myself a ‘wife’ is strange. But it’s fitting because we’ve talked about marriage ever since we started dating. We knew we wanted to spend our lives together.
“We believe marriage isn’t just about settling down and having kids. It’s also about choosing someone to love, someone to travel and flat with, and to do fun things with. For me, marriage is about doing life with my best friend.”
Tinā is now in cinemas.
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