With her heart set on tying the knot with the dashing Chris Read this April, Courtenay’s journey from screen queen to blushing bride is nothing short of magical.
“Sure, I’ve played the blushing bride on TV, but honey, [designer] Trish Peng turned my dress fitting into a spellbinding saga!” Courtenay told Spy, revealing that her off-screen romance is even more swoon-worthy than her plotlines.
Amid the glitz of gown trials, it’s Chris’s knack for making her feel like the belle of the ball, even in her couch potato finest, that truly steals her heart. “Chris has this superpower—making me feel gorgeous, makeup or not. It’s like living in a love bubble,” she gushes.
Chris, 32, isn’t shy about singing Courtenay’s praises either, admiring her bulldozer determination and her ability to light up any room. “She’s my jokester with a heart of gold. Sure, we share bad jokes, but it’s her spirit that truly captures me,” he confesses.
Their love story kicked off a decade ago, under the twinkling lights of Tyler Street Garage, sparking over a butter chicken date and shared dreams bigger than the Auckland skyline. From bartending blunders to beachside romances, their love was a script worth writing.
Despite Courtenay’s soap stardom, the couple’s plot twists included supporting roles in each other’s ambitious pursuits—her leap into acting and his climb up the corporate ladder. “Chris was my rock, cheering me on through every audition and acting gig, even when I totally blanked on stage,” Courtenay laughs, recalling a line-flubbing fiasco in Sydney.
But it’s not all glamour and spotlights; balancing love with the demanding hours of soap opera life has its challenges. “Juggling love and lines is tough, but Chris is my anchor, reminding me what truly matters,” Courtenay shares, hinting at the sacrifices made and the support given in pursuit of their passions.
The proposal? Picture-perfect. Chris popped the question in Queenstown, turning a rainy stroll into a proposal scene that would make any director jealous. “I was ready for a hot tub soak, but Chris had other plans. It was awkward, adorable, and utterly us,” Courtenay reminisces.
As for the wedding, it’s set to be a stunning clifftop affair with all the trimmings of a dream day—elegance, laughter, and a cake baked by a castmate. “This wedding is the start of our forever script—family, laughter, and maybe a few plot twists of our own,” Courtenay smiles.
What’s next for Shorty’s starlet? “Stay tuned. If my character’s love life is anything to go by, expect the unexpected—but off-screen, I’m all about building our love story with Chris.”
So, as Courtenay swaps script lines for vow lines, it’s clear this is one leading lady ready to take on her most thrilling role yet: a real-life bride with a love story that outshines even the most dramatic of soap operas.
