Olympian Bree Masters marries in glam Gold Coast wedding

Olympian Bree Masters marries her longtime athlete partner in a stunning Gold Coast celebration.

Jane Armitstead

@JaneArmitstead

4 min read

January 14, 2025 - 10:36AM

QWeekend

The wedding of Bree Masters and Matthew Rizzo. Pictures: D'argent Weddings

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Olympic sprinter Bree Masters has married her long-time athlete boyfriend Matthew Rizzo in a stunning celebration on the Gold Coast.

The Broadbeach Waters couple, who have been together for more than five years, tied the knot at Braeside at Gin House Creek Estate at Merrimac on November 23.

It capped off a stellar year for track athlete Masters, who had the nation behind her after she made the semi-final of the women’s 100m sprint at the Paris Olympics last year.

Alongside preparing for one of the biggest moments of her career, she was quietly planning her dream wedding to Rizzo, who she met in 2019 at an athletic event.

The couple celebrated their nuptials alongside their 106 guests who watched on for their first dance to I Guess I’m in Love by Clinton Kane.

The wedding of Bree Masters and Matt Rizzo. Pictures: D’argent Weddings

How did you meet? Bree: It was a sunny Easter weekend in 2019 at Australia’s oldest and richest footrace, the Stawell Gift. Having known of each other for years through social media, we met face-to-face for the first time at Central Park, a place very special to Matt (he is a previous Stawell Gift winner and sprint athlete, like me). We hit it off immediately and kept in contact over the next few months before making our relationship official.

The proposal? Bree:Our proposal was at Doug Jennings Park in Main Beach on the Gold Coast. I had no idea Matt was planning it.

Matt: On the day, I became very nervous. When it finally happened, it went down exactly like I'd pictured.

Theme? Our wedding theme was classic and timeless, with an emphasis on understated

luxury. I wore an elegant, silk, form-fitting gown with a subtle shine and a lace veil

from Grace Loves Lace, and Matt complemented my look in a white tuxedo jacket from Bruno’s Suits. The bridal party perfectly contrasted with the groomsmen in all-black tuxedos and bridesmaids in sleek black dresses from Billy J Boutique. Florals were kept simple and refined, featuring white roses, baby’s breath, and other soft white blooms. To add vintage charm, we included a stunning 1966 Mustang from A Classic Cruize as a wedding arrival and departure car.

The wedding of Bree Masters and Matthew Rizzo. Pictures: D'argent Weddings

How did you choose your wedding venue?

I stumbled across it while browsing online and on social media. When I walked into the venue, I was completely blown away. It was pristine, so well-maintained, and absolutely breathtaking. When they mentioned they had a Saturday available in November 2024, I immediately went home, called Matt, and the very next day, we locked it in.

What was the budget for your wedding? Our wedding budget started at $20,000, but we

quickly realised that wasn’t going to cut it! After estimating all the costs, we adjusted to

$40,000, which then crept up to $55,000 … and then $65,000 … and eventually finished at around $70,000. In the end, it was worth every penny for the most perfect day! We now keep asking each other if we could do it all again.

What would you spend more or less on? I wouldn’t change a thing!

How did you choose your wedding outfits? Bree: I feel so lucky to have worked with Grace Loves Lace for my wedding dress. I initially tried on five dresses and found one I loved back in November last year. However, when they released the Cupid dress as part of their new collection in May, I just knew it was the one. For the reception, I changed into a second dress from Aston Bridal – the Jac dress. It was a chic, mini-length bubble skirt with a heavily structured, visible corsetted bodice.

The wedding of Bree Masters and Matthew Rizzo. Pictures: D'argent Weddings

What were your thoughts seeing Bree for the first time? Matt: I was feeling pretty nervous but so excited to finally be marrying the love of my life. As soon as the doors opened, I couldn’t hold back my emotions. I burst into tears. Seeing Bree standing there, so beautiful, completely took my breath away.

What was the most stressful part of planning? Bree: I knew what my goals were for 2024, and if I was going to pull off qualifying for the Olympics and planning a wedding, I had to be super prepared early. Most of my planning and vendor bookings were done before the New Year. With the athletics season starting in January, I didn’t want to get distracted, so I locked in everything early.

Any unique details about your wedding?The number 222, which holds special meaning for me. On our wedding day, the number plate on the car we had booked arrived with MUZ222!

The wedding of Bree Masters and Matthew Rizzo. Pictures: D'argent Weddings

What was the standout moment of the day?

Our ceremony. Arriving in the Mustang and driving up behind the big barn doors, opening to reveal each other down the aisle, was truly magical. Matt was in tears, and I tried so hard to hold it together. It was such an emotional, special moment. Then, as we exited the ceremony, we stopped for a kiss and the confetti cannons went off, adding to the joy. It’s a moment we’ll treasure for the rest of our lives.