Alex Stefanovic couldn’t afford airfares, accommodation for Karl, Jasmine’s wedding

After reconciling their relationship a few months ago, Karl Stefanovic extended an olive branch and invited his father Alex to Mexico for his much-hyped wedding. But sadly his dad couldn’t afford the trip. He tried everything, even attempting to remortgage his home to make the trip.

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After reconciling their relationship a few months ago, Karl Stefanovic extended an olive branch and invited his father Alex to Mexico for his much-hyped wedding.

There was one problem though — Alex couldn’t afford the trip.

Sunday Confidential can reveal 73-year-old Alex Stefanovic attempted to remortgage his house to raise the cash to jet to Cabo San Lucas to watch his eldest son tie the knot with fiance Jasmine Yarbrough today.

However his pension wouldn’t cover the cost, which is estimated at $25,000 per couple for airfare and accommodation.

Karl Stefanovic with his mum Jenny and his soon-to-be-wife Jasmine Yarbrough during pre-wedding celebrations at the One & Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos, Mexico.

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Alex and his partner Carmel, who both lead a frugal existence on the pension, attempted to remortgage Carmel’s modest home in Dapto to raise the cash to get there.

Alex even went as far as to book flights for today’s nuptials, but had to cancel the tickets after the bank refused the request to refinance Carmel’s house.

“I would have loved to have been there, but sadly we couldn’t raise the money that was needed,” Alex said.

“I didn’t want to remortgage the house, but Camel insisted. She knew how important this was to me.”

Karl, pictured in red, recently reconciled with his dad and invited him to the wedding.

Asked why he didn’t just ask Karl for the money, Alex said: “I couldn’t do that.”

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Stefanovic, who said he would have dearly loved to have been in Mexico to watch his son — who spent $50,000 on first-class tickets for himself and Yarbrough — tie the knot.

He said they considered cheaper options to get there, including economy class tickets but significant health issues precluded that.

Despite having barely spoken over a 25-year period, Alex confirmed that he and Karl recently reconciled.

Guests such as Julie Bishop and her boyfriend David Panton were relaxing pool side. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Today Show newsreader and his brother’s wife Sylvia Jeffreys, in blue, was having a bite with friends by the pool. Picture: Nathan Edwards

“We have spoken quite a bit lately,” he said. “It’s fantastic. I love Karl a lot.”

He was also pleased Stefanovic’s three children — Jackson, River and Ava — had made the trip to Cabo and were there to witness their father getting married.

“I love my grandchildren a great deal and I am happy they are there on my son’s big day.”

Meanwhile guests, including Sylvia Jeffreys, Peter Stefanovic, Julie Bishop and partner David Panton, have spent the past few days sunning themselves ahead of the big day today.

Back home in Australia, Stefanovic’s ex-wife Cass Thorburn has been holed up in friend Mike Amor and his wife Tracey’s Melbourne home.