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It was a day of firsts for Aaron and Sade Schuurman; the first time they kissed, the first time they said "I love you" and the first time they met.

Aaron Schuurman and Sade Peel tied the knot in Auckland on Thursday morning in front of their friends, family and a whole lot of strangers.

The couple were brought together by The Edge radio station's Stangers and a Wedding competition.

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Aaron Schuurman and Sade Peel met for the first time at their wedding on Thursday thanks to The Edge radio station's Strangers and a Wedding competition

Schuurman waited nervously at the altar on the Rydges Hotel Rooftop Terrace at 7.30am but his face lit up when he saw Peel walk down the aisle in her strapless wedding gown and veil.

In true MediaWorks style, television presenter Dominic Bowden officiated the unconventional wedding and it was broadcast live to radio.

Speaking after the ceremony, Peel – who has taken Schuurman's last name despite not knowing what it was until the big day – said she felt relieved.

The wait was the most nerve-racking part, she said.

The pair agreed there was an instant physical attraction.

"The attraction levels are through the roof," Peel said.

Schuurman a 32-year-old sales rep said going into the competition he knew it was not about looks.

Peel's good looks were a bonus, he said.

Schuurman said initially he felt the pressure to make the whole thing work but it was no longer about the radio show or the media; it was about doing what was best for them.

The couple are leaving for their honeymoon in Hawaii on Sunday, where they will take time to get to know each other away from the media fanfare.

"Today is the media's day and every day from now on is our day," Peel said.

During the ceremony they promised to respect one another and to "ask no more than you can give".

"I promise to respect you as your own person.

"I promise to keep myself open to you.

"To be willing to face changes in order to keep our relationship alive and exciting," they told each other.

Schuurman and Peel wrote their own vows and recited them with smiles on their faces.

"I feel a strong connection with you, I want you to know this connection will only grow stronger," he said.

"From what I know of you, you are kind, romantic and a real sweetheart," Peel said to Schuurman.

After a drawn-out kiss, which garnered much cheering and applause, Schuurman swept peel off her feet and carried her up the aisle.

Speaking before the wedding, Schuurman said he was "tired and nervous and excited."

The ex-rugby player said he hadn't slept properly in weeks.

He said he was looking forward to a good night's sleep on Thursday, "well...maybe".

Meanwhile, Peel had to get up at 3.15am to get her makeup and hair ready.

The couple's loved ones were supportive despite the unusual circumstances.

Schuurman's mother Kres said she was nervous about the wedding.

"He's marrying a stranger at the end of the day...

"But we've come to accept his choice - we're all a bit nervous."

The groom's family had encouraged him to take it slowly, she said.

His grandfather, who had been married for 50 years, said a big family was the key to a successful marriage.

And Peel's mother had been with her through the ups and downs, offering advice and support.

Fiona peel said she trusted her daughter's judgement but the couple would have to work at their relationship, she said.

"Marriage is not easy, it's not a bed of roses.

"It's not about cameras, it's not about the radio station anymore.

"This is the real thing."

Peel has dealt with negative comments from the public during her short time in the spotlight but her mother said people should not be so judgmental.

"Sometimes people can date for whatever amount of time and still end up divorcing.

"There's just no guarantees."

While there aren't any guarantees, there's a good chance this marriage will work judging by the past success of the competition.

This is the fourth time The Edge has married two strangers, with a 100 per cent success rate so far.

Zane and Paula Nicholl were the first ones to go through the process in 1999.

They were at Thursday's wedding and their advice to the couple was "just enjoy the day".

"There's a lot of attention but this is their one and only chance to get married," Zane Nicholl said.

While it was not the norm in New Zealand culture, people from India have applauded the pair on their decision to go through an arranged marriage of sorts, he said.

The Nicholls wished the Schuurmans luck in their journey and said the most important thing was good communication.

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