Inside dessert king Adriano Zumbo’s sweet Qld wedding

Adriano Zumbo fell in love with Nelly Riggio after she began working for his dessert empire, and now they’ve tied the knot in a fittingly sweet Sunshine Coast wedding

Amy Price

3 min read

June 2, 2022 - 12:00PM

QWeekend

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Somewhere over the rainbow, dessert king Adriano Zumbo and his bride Nelly Riggio emotionally exchanged vows they’d written themselves in a romantic Sunshine Coast chapel.

The May 6 nuptials at the picturesque clifftop venue, Tiffany’s Maleny, came six years after Riggio met the famous pastry chef when she applied for a job with his booming dessert business in 2016 after having starred herself in a season of My Kitchen Rules.

Adriano and Nelly Zumbo tied the knot at Tiffany’s Maleny. Photo: Kurt and Kara

They made headlines when they began dating shortly after and later weathered the storm together when the dessert business collapsed in 2018, moving to the Sunshine Coast, where they’ve now lived happily for four years.

In 2021 Zumbo popped the question on the beach in Mooloolaba under a full moon and 12 months later they tied the knot in Maleny in front of 127 members of their extended families, a rainbow emerging from Queensland’s recent gloomy skies as they exchanged their vows in the hinterland setting.

Zumbo had been too busy working on his new Noosa business, Zumbo Test, to have a buck’s party, and he handed over the menu reins to the team at Tiffany’s Maleny and The Sweet Society Co, who created an elegant, white, textured cake with white leaves.

But he couldn’t resist making a batch of his famous Zumbarons – in Riggio’s favourite dirty chai flavour – as the couple’s bonbonnières, to match his special macaron cufflinks.

Adriano and Nelly Zumbo walk down the aisle at Tiffany’s Maleny. Photo: Kurt and Kara

How did you meet?

We met in 2016 when I applied for a job with Adriano, and six to eight months later we started dating.

The proposal? Adriano proposed on the beach in Mooloolaba under a full moon.

First dance song?

Firestone by Kygo and Conrad Sewell

Zumbo made his famous macarons as bonbonnières. Photo: Kurt and Kara

Hen’s night?

Noosa weekend with closest girlfriends, spa morning, picnic by the beach followed by dinner and drinks.

Buck’s night?Hasn’t had one yet! Too busy with work.

What was the standout moment of the day?

When a rainbow emerged as we were saying our vows! Also having friends and family all together, we felt so much love. It was a spectacular day.

What would you do differently?

Absolutely nothing. Everything was well organised. Even when we were rained in and couldn’t go to One Tree Hill for photos, Tiffany’s made us pizzas because we were starving and Adriano and I have pizza night every Sunday so it was so us. The pizza even made it into our wedding photos.

Adriano and Nelly Zumbo with their bridal party and groomsmen at Tiffany’s Maleny. Photo: Kurt and Kara

Best advice for other couples planning a wedding?

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Soak in every moment, and make sure to order your bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen suits months in advance, Adriano ordered the groomsmen suits a week before the wedding and I nearly had a heart attack.

How did you decide on your wedding plans?

We were very lucky not to be impacted by Covid. Tiffany’s was the first place we saw and we fell in love with the venue and the view, Adriano was sold instantly when he found out there was a wood-fired oven.

What was the most important thing about the day for you?

Having everyone we love around to celebrate love. And … the music! Our DJ was amazing!