Australian stars who got married, engaged or had babies in 2021
Australian celebrities put the stresses of the ongoing pandemic behind them to celebrate their engagement, marriage or new arrivals in 2021. Find out who.
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Many celebrities put the stresses of the ongoing Covid pandemic behind them to celebrate in 2021.
Find out the Australian stars who got engaged, married or welcomed a bundle of joy in 2021.
MARRIAGES
SAM ARMYTAGE AND RICHARD LAVENDER
Former Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage tied the knot with Richard Lavender on New Year’s Eve.
The couple, who got engaged last year, exchanged vows before family and friends in an intimate wedding at Lavender’s sprawling property in the NSW Southern Highlands.
The Channel 7 presenter, 45, wore a white Carla Zampatti frock while Lavender, 61, wore a traditional suit.
The couple managed to organise their big day in just three days.
“Three days before we decided that we’d do it for New Year’s Eve, and we did it, we got it done and it was lovely,” Armytage said.
RAY HADLEY AND SOPHIE BAIRD
Veteran broadcaster Ray Hadley tied the knot with his personal assistant Sophie Baird in March.
The 2GB radio host proposed in 2019 but they were forced to delay their wedding three times due to Covid-19.
The couple tied the knot before family and friends at friend John Singleton’s restaurant Saddles in Mount White.
“Absolutely magnificent, just the best day,” Hadley, 67, said. “The sun shone, all the guests arrived on time by the buses, not a hitch... as perfect as you can get and everyone had a great time.”
PIA MILLER AND PATRICK WHITESELL
Former Home and Away star Pia Miller and Hollywood “super agent” Patrick Whitesell secretly tied the knot earlier this year after more than a year of dating.
In April, Whitesell, 56, was spotted wearing a wedding band at Nobu in Malibu and shortly after, Miller’s friend Nina O’Brien accidentally let slip that the couple officially became “Mr. and Mrs” while congratulating them on social media.
Miller, 38, eventually changed her last name to Whitesell and relocated to the US to start her new life with the A-list agent.
SARAH SNOOK AND DAVE LAWSON
Succession star Sarah Snook secretly married comedian Dave Lawson earlier this year.
The pair were friends for six years and fell in love while living together during the pandemic last year.
Snook, 34, popped the question to Lawson, 43, and they wed in New York in February.
“We’ve been friends since 2014, lived together, travelled together, always excited to see each other, but totally platonic. We’ve just never been single at the same time. I proposed and we got married in February in my backyard,” she told Vogue.
NADIA FAIRFAX AND MICHAEL WAYNE
Socialite Nadia Fairfax married investment advisor Michael Wayne in a lavish wedding in March.
The longtime friends tied the knot in an Alice in Wonderland-inspired wedding in Sydney’s Darling Point with a wedding party of 28.
“Very much enjoying married life and happily settled into our home,” the Grey Goose ambassador said.
“While I do love the fabulous soirées we get to attend - it was nice to spend a lot of the first 6 months of our marriage at home together.”
ENGAGEMENTS
SOPHIE MONK AND JOSHUA GROSS
TV host Sophie Monk, 43, announced her engagement to neurosurgical robotics consultant Joshua Gross, 43, in January, after more than two years of dating.
The pair, who met on a flight in 2018, got engaged on Christmas Day and celebrated their engagement a few months later at the former Bardot singer’s $2.25 million hinterland home in Matcham on the NSW Central Coast.
“We’ve discussed [the wedding], I think we’re just going to do it by ourselves - just him and I. Because it’s just too hard anyway through the pandemic and it’s about us anyway,” Monk said.
“I naturally perform if we have people there, I won’t be focused. We’ll just make it really intimate and take some really nice photos and enjoy it with no pressure.”
JAMES TEDESCO AND MARIA GLINELLIS
James Tedesco got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Maria Glinellis.
The Sydney Roosters captain, 28, announced the happy news on Instagram after he popped the question in his hometown of Menangle.
The couple, who have been dating for more than one year, shared photos of former University of Sydney student Glinellis’ diamond engagement ring after he surprised her with the romantic gesture.
“You make me the happiest girl now and forever. Thank you everyone for the beautiful messages,” she wrote.
Tedesco was named the NRL’s best player at the 2019 Dally M Medal.
BABIES
MIRANDA TAPSELL AND JAMES COLLEY
Logie award-winning actor Miranda Tapsell recently welcomed the birth of her first child with husband James Colley.
The Sapphires star, who is a proud Larrakia woman, shared the sweet meaning behind her baby girl’s name.
“Christmas has come early for us as we welcome our Grace Birri-Pa Purnarrika Colley,” Tapsell, 34, wrote on Instagram.
“Birri-Pa is Larrakia for Butterfly, Purnarrika is Tiwi for Water Lily. Grace has entered the world adored by her mum and dad, as well as all her aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and so many more. We are extremely grateful, overjoyed and so, so tired.”
JENNIFER HAWKINS AND JAKE WALL
Former Miss Universe Jennifer Hawkins and her builder husband Jake Wall welcomed baby number two in October.
The couple announced the birth of baby Hendrix on social media along with an adorable photo.
“Our little man wanted to say hello to the world earlier than expected and has needed some extra care but is now doing so well and is healthy and strong!!” Hawkins, 37, wrote.
The pair, who have been together for 16 years, also share a two-year-old daughter Frankie Violet.
Hawkins, 37, tied the knot with Wall, 38, in a lavish wedding in Bali eight years ago.
GRANT AND CHEZZI DENYER
TV host Grant Denyer and his wife Chezzi announced the birth of their baby girl Sunday in February.
Chezzi, 43, tragically suffered three miscarriages before conceiving baby Sunday andwhile the pregnancy was rough, she and Denyer, 44, were thrilled to become parents for a third time.
“We are over-the-moon excited to announce the wonderful & safe arrival of our brand new baby girl, the spectacularly gorgeous Sunday Mary Mae Denyer,” Chezzi wrote on Instagram.
The couple, who have been married for just over a decade, are also parents to daughters Sailor, nine, and Scout, five.
GEORGIA FOWLER AND NATHAN DALAH
Victoria’s Secret model Georgia Fowler welcomed a baby girl named Dylan with boyfriend Nathan Dalah in September.
“Dylan Aman Dalah 17.9.21. Welcome to the World. We love you so much,” she captioned an Instagram photo.
Fowler, 29, confirmed her relationship with Dalah, who is the co-founder of Japanese-inspired eatery Fishbowl, last year.
They announced they were expecting in April and Fowler previously said that like many people, the pandemic helped her reevaluate what’s important in life.
“For as long as I remember I’ve wanted to be a mum. I was always very maternal and loved babysitting over any other job growing up,” she wrote.
“I was also always very driven and so focused on work-travel and fulfilling my career was such a major part of my life for the last ten years.
“So motherhood wasn’t on my mind until the world’s reset. Not to mention finding the perfect partner which is the most important part of this journey for sure. Nathan will be the most perfect dad, supportive, kind, with a lust for life and love. Life will be very different with a little bear of our own.”
FRANCES AND SAM LOCH
Frances Loch, the daughter of former Prime Minister Tony Abbott ngave birth to a baby boy in Portland, Oregon in July.
Loch’s husband, Sam, announced the arrival of their son Ernest on social media following a natural birth.
“Ernest Loch - Born on his Due Date, July 11. Tipping the scales at an even 9lb. Brought into existence by his mum with nothing but breathing, coconut water and heart,” he wrote on Instagram.
Loch, 29, first announced she was expecting in January and documented her pregnancy online.
She and Olympian rower turned weightlifter Sam made headlines in 2017 after a whirlwind engagement.
The couple got engaged just two weeks after being introduced by a friend.
SIMON PRYCE AND LAUREN HANNAFORD
Red Wiggle Simon Pryce and his wife Lauren Hannaford announced the birth of their first child in January.
The pair named their son Asher William Pryce and shared their excitement with fans.
“I am so overcome with emotion and overwhelming feelings of love that it’s impossible to put into words everything I am feeling right now,” Pryce, 49, wrote.
“@lozhannaford and I are so fortunate, happy and blessed to have you in our lives. Welcome to the world ASHER WILLIAM PRYCE. In an instant, I can’t imagine my life without you being here.”
YVONNE STRAHOVSKI AND TIM LODEN
The Handmaid’s Tale star Yvonne Strahovski gave birth to a baby boy earlier this month.
The 39-year-old actor announced she and husband Tim Loden are parents again in a heartwarming Instagram post.
“An angel joined our world this past week ❤️ Welcome to the family my love ❤️ I love you so very much ️#mamaoftwo,” she wrote.
She and Loden tied the knot in 2017 and welcomed their first child, a boy, named William the following year.
JOHN IBRAHIM AND SARAH BUDGE
Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim and his long-term partner Sarah Budge welcomed the birth of their son in August.
The couple named the baby boy Elvis and shared the first photos on Instagram.
“They are both over the moon,’’ a family friend said at the time.
Prior to giving birth, Budge, 31, moved out of her Leichhardt flat and into the nightclub owner’s Dover Heights mansion, where they are raising their son.
Ibrahim, 53, has two children from previous relationships.
TERESA PALMER AND MARK WEBBER
Actor Teresa Palmer and her director husband Mark Webber welcomed the birth of their daughter Prairie Moon Palmer in August.
The couple, who are already parents to three children, shared the news on social media.
“Introducing our daughter, Prairie Moon Palmer, who was born just as the sun rose on Tuesday morning, 17th August, surrounded by her siblings who are absolutely enamoured with her,” Palmer wrote.
“A little magic moon for our family [crescent moon, sun and sparkle emojis] ~ 17•12•12•17.”
Palmer, 35, and Webber, 41, have been married for eight years.
JESINTA AND BUDDY FRANKLIN
AFL golden couple Buddy and Jesinta Franklin welcomed the birth of their second child in March.
The pair announced the happy news on Instagram and later revealed they named him Rocky.
“Our Baby boy has arrived,” the Sydney Swans star, 34, wrote.
They are also parents to a daughter named Tallulah, who turns two in February.
The 30-year-old model once said pregnancy had strengthened their five-year marriage.
“I think that the challenges that we went through have strengthened our relationship and made us more appreciative of what’s happening. We’re obviously really happy and excited at the moment, feeling very loved up,” she said.
BINDI IRWIN AND CHANDLER POWELL
Bindi gave birth to her first child in March this year.
Wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin gave birth to her first child in March.
Irwin, 23, and her American husband Chandler Powell, 25, welcomed baby Grace Warrior on their first wedding anniversary and named her after their relatives, including her late father Steve “The Crocodile Hunter” Irwin.
“Grace is named after my great-grandmother and relatives in Chandler’s family dating back to the 1700s,” she wrote on Instagram. “Her middle names, Warrior Irwin, are a tribute to my dad and his legacy as the most incredible Wildlife Warrior.”
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