A month ago, Julian Hung used to ring Claire Chiang every night to practise his English.
Now, he is able to whisper "I love you" in person - to his new wife.
The couple, from Taiwan, were in Nelson to study English at Richmond Hills English Language School, when they became romantically involved just over a month ago.
They married on Sunday at Bishopdale Chapel in front of Nelson friends, teachers and homestay families.
"I was ringing her every night and I said it was just to practise English, but that was not the whole truth of it," Mr Hung laughed.
"Then my teacher told me he liked me," Ms Chiang added.
"But I was just here to study very hard but every day he was talking to me and texting me. It was nice."
The pair plan to return to Taiwan in June to sit exams and celebrate with family and friends there.
Mr Hung never expected to meet his future wife when he came to Nelson.
"I was really just going for a holiday and to study English," he said.
The couple say they are a classic case of opposites attract with Mr Hung serious and Ms Chiang creative.
They say Nelson was the place they were meant to meet.
Mr Hung said his passion for the Lord of the Rings movies meant he was thrilled to be able to buy wedding rings from Jens Hansen Gold and Silversmith, the jeweller who made the movies' "one ring".
"We have our names - Claire and Julian - on the inside," he said.
"And now it's the one ring for me, the one I'll never take off."