Famous faces and special celebrations: Inside SA’s most lavish weddings of 2023
From fitness mogul Kayla Itsines’s backyard extravaganza to couture gowns, bespoke florals and dazzling pyrotechnics, these are last year’s breathtaking “I do” moments.
Lifestyle
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It wouldn’t be a weddings list without the backyard nuptials of SA’s multi-millionaire fitness mogul Kayla Itsines — but hers wasn’t the only breathtaking ‘I do’ moment to celebrate in 2023.
For Nova breakfast radio star Liam Stapleton, a washed-out weather forecast couldn’t dampen his bright day, while an heir to the Shahin family fortune pulled out all the stops for her 700-guest extravaganza.
Other stunning celebrations featured floor-to-ceiling florals, pyrotechnics, jaw-dropping couture gowns and 10-tier hand crafted cakes.
From famous SA faces and big name designers to couples simply going the extra mile to make their day special, here are some of our state’s most beautiful – and lavish – weddings for 2023.
Kayla Itsines and Jae Woodroofe
Planner: Vincenza Demicoli
Dresses: Mariana Hardwick Emporium
Jewellery: Cassandra Mamone
Flowers: Adelaide Flower House
Photographer: Christina Toulantas/I Do Cinema
Venue: Kayla and Jae’s Unley home
Proving they are simply a couple in love, high-flyers Kayla Itsines and Jae Woodroffe threw a backyard wedding at their Unley home — but the affair was far from low key.
Organised by friend Vincenza Demicoli, floral arrangements by Adelaide Flower House on Unley Rd turned a garden marquee into a lush paradise fit for a social media queen which transformed into a pumping late-night dance floor, guided by the deft hand of local DJ Sami.
The bride chose not one but two wedding dresses for her big day – an understated, custom-made sexy gown by Melbourne designer Mariana Hardwick, and later changed into a beaded crop top and skirt designed to show off her midriff, which featured a thigh-high split.
Kayla, who shares a baby boy Jax with Jae, credited hairdresser Massimo Tirimacco, from ZoHair Salon at Norwood, for her up-do. Sydney-based Leah Baines did her make-up.
Liam Stapleton and Sarah Crisanti
Planner: Hygge Studio
Dress: Kyha Studios
Suiting: YSG Tailors
Flowers: Hygge Blooms
Venue: Mandalay House & Garden, Petwood
Even a torrential downpour couldn’t dampen the spirits of one of SA’s brightest radio exports, who has said ‘I do’ to his long-term love in an intimate Adelaide Hills ceremony.
Nova breakfast star Liam Stapleton, 27, wed fiancee Sarah Crisanti at Mount Barker’s Mandalay House & Garden, two years after the couple announced their engagement.
The pair was forced to move their ceremony indoors after heavy rains washed out the stunning Hills venue, but blooms and stylish touches from bespoke wedding curators Hygge Studio made “Plan B” seem like ‘Plan A’ all along.
Classic white and green florals dressed a vintage-style green cocktail bar, with an espresso martini named for the groom and spritz for the bride.
Kylie Galligan and Ben Teakle
Planner: Hygge Studio
Flowers: Hygge Blooms
Venue: Golding Wines, Lobethal
Photographer: Travis and Benny
A whimsical, floral garden party would land high on many kids’ dream wedding Pinterest boards — and Hygge Studio brought the dream to life for Kylie Galligan and Ben Teakle’s dreamy bespoke wedding.
Nestled in the lush greenery of Golding Wines in the Adelaide Hills, luscious draping and custom built pendant lights helped bring together Kylie and Ben’s perfect day with almost 100 friends and family in tow.
Denise Marciano and Rob Marciano
Dress: Varacalli Couture
Photographer: B Captured by Ky Luu
Reception venue: JDF Receptions, Windsor Gardens
Cake: Lyons Den
Let them eat cake — it didn’t work out so well for Antoinette, but the saying certainly paid off for guests of Denise and Rob’s dazzling ceremony.
Cementing Lyons Den as the go-to baker for high-end requests, the couple’s initial-emblazoned 12-tier cake was the centrepiece of the affair, only making way for the couple’s first dance under smoke and shimmering lights.
Denise stunned in a Varacalli Couture gown with a classic bouquet of white roses.
Rachel Friend and David Goodwin
Planner: Hygge Studio
Dress: Pallas Couture
Photographer: Story Studio
Reception venue: Private residence
Penfolds’ Magill Estate Winery is one of Adelaide’s most iconic venues — but Rachel and David managed to make the space even more spectacular with a geometric open-air marquee structure in front of a custom floral arch.
Rachel said ‘I do’ in a beaded gown by Perth-based atelier Pallas Couture before swapping the floor-length dress for a party-friendly A-line mini.
Almost 100 of the couple’s nearest and dearest partied the night away after a sit-down dinner among the winery’s vintage barrels.
Jess Davies and Travis Head
Planner: Hygge Studio
Dress: Pallas Couture
Photographer: Image Haus
Reception venue: Carrick Hill, Springfield
Star batter Travis Head and his partner Jessica Davies stunned the cricket world with their picture-perfect wedding day, tying the knot in front of a host of wellwishers that included plenty of cricketing ability.
In a bespoke event by local wedding gurus Hygge Studio, the couple danced the night away in a flower and greenery-draped marquee surrounded by friends and family.
Head wore a black MJ Bale tuxedo, while Davies chose Pallas Couture for her wedding gown — but the real star of the show was Travis and Jess’s daughter Milla.
Victoria Tripodi and Sebastian Tripodi
Dress: Varacalli Couture
Photographer: B Captured by Ky Luu
Florals: Angelik Blossoms
Reception venue: Sunnybrae Estate, Regency Park
Cake: Lyons Den
A rainfall of bespoke shimmering beads hanging from the ceiling would be a stunning touch alone – but matched with Denise’s custom Varacalli Couture gown, it turned her and husband Rob’s special day into a masterpiece.
Pyrotechnics and a smoke machine helped the couple celebrate their first dance at Sunnybrae Estate, surrounded by white florals from Angelik Blossoms.
Hadi Bahrami and Latifeh Bahrami
Dresses: Paolo Sebastian
Photographer: B Captured by Ky Luu
Reception venue: The Playford Hotel
Cake: Lyons Den
Anyone who says wedding cakes are slipping out of vogue hasn’t set their eyes on the jaw-dropping creations from Lyons Den.
Hadi and Latifeh’s 10 tier sweet piece of art took centre stage at their lavish ceremony, hand crafted with piped detailing, pearls, wafer flowers and seven dozen sugar roses.
Wearing a spectacular Paolo Sebastian gown and standing behind a plinth slathered in perfect white roses and candles, the couple’s chosen hashtag — #crazyrichafghans — felt a fitting reflection of the special day.
Paul Vasileff and Anna Frangiosa
Planner: Mia Gambranis
Dresses: Paolo Sebastian
Photographer: Dan Evans Photography
Reception venue: Mandalay House & Garden, Petwood
The founder of internationally-renowned Adelaide couture house Paolo Sebastian, Paul Vasileff created not one, but three bridal gowns for future wife Anna Frangiosa to wear in the couple’s fairytale wedding.
With catering by Indulgence Food Design, Bird in Hand wines and a Lyons Den wedding cake, they dined under the stars in a stunning setting complete with crystal chandeliers and candles.
Vasileff and Frangiosa wowed their family and friends as they took to the dance floor for a breathtaking bridal waltz to La Vie en Rose.
He proposed in October 2021, presenting her with a 1.01 carat solitaire diamond ring from JW Jewellery.
Aya Shahin and Bassam Safieddine
Planner: Mrs Smith Weddings
Dress: Paolo Sebastian
Photographer: Lost in Love Photography
Reception venue: Adelaide Convention Centre, CBD
Lawyer Aya Shahin, daughter of Peregrine boss Khalil (Charlie) Shahin, tied the knot to beau Bassam Safieddine in a joyous, lavish wedding believed to be one of Adelaide’s largest.
The couple’s reception, held at the Adelaide Convention Centre, was attended by more than 700 guests.
Wearing a design by internationally-renowned couture house Paolo Sebastian, Aya accessorised the spectacular gown and its 4.5 metre train with Christian Louboutin shoes.
The groom wore a suit by Hugo Boss and Dior tie, complete with a Cartier wedding band.
Thousands of dazzling lights adorned a massive chandelier hanging from the centre of the room, with a floral archway marking the guests’ entrance and a string quartet and, later, DJ providing the entertainment.
Friends and family were treated to an almost-100kg, 2m tall wedding cake covered in white roses by Lyons Den Cakes – handmade by local baker Terresia Welch.
Jeremy Finlayson and Kellie Finlayson
Dress: Made with Love Bridal
Jewellery: Prestwick Place
Photographer: Bambi Photo, Connor Gurr and Danielle Symes.
Reception venue: EOS by SkyCity, CBD
Port Adelaide star Jeremy Finlayson and his partner Kellie were supposed tie the knot in October this year — but, after receiving Kellie’s terminal cancer diagnosis, decided to bring forward the day to March in whirlwind surprise ceremony.
The intimate and emotional day was captured on camera by Port Adelaide videographer Connor Gurr, one of the Finlaysons’ close friends who rallied to pull together the special celebration in just three weeks.
With simple, showstopping makeup by friend Nicole Abela — who is no stranger to Kellie’s face as her go-to artist for the Port Adelaide Best and Fairest — and a spectacular gown by Made with Love Bridal, Kellie and Jeremy said ‘I do’ surrounded by eight close friends and family members.
After the ceremony, Kellie said it was “the most intense love” the couple had ever felt.
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