Melbourne socialite Imogen Russell to wed partner Shadi Kazeme

The daughter of Melbourne billionaire David Russell is set to wed after a heartbreaking bedside ceremony for her dying father-in-law.

The daughter of a Melbourne billionaire will marry in a glamorous wedding next month after a heartbreaking bedside ceremony for her dying father-in-law.

Imogen Russell, the daughter of businessman David Russell, will wed partner Shadi Kazeme after the socialite couple got engaged in April last year.

Kazeme, a commercial project manager, and Russell, a financial planner, have been together for two and a half years.

The day will be a bittersweet celebration after Kazeme’s father passed away recently with lung cancer. The pair held a special union by his hospital bedside surrounded by family.

Imogen Russell and Shadi Kazeme on the super yacht last weekend. Picture: Instagram

“We’re not legally married but my dad was unwell and he was deteriorating,’’ Kazeme told the Herald Sun.

“We had this date booked in for a while. Imogen and I were driving home in the car one day from the hospital and said ‘do you want to just do something quickly’. He was really excited about the wedding and he loved her, they had a really close relationship.

“We were able to have a small ceremony in the hospital and we were able to get exemptions for our family to be together and he passed away that night. It was his last time of all of us being together.”

Instagram photos from Imogen Russell, who is engaged to Shadi Kazeme.

Instagram photos show Imogen Russell’s engagement ring.

Kazeme said she and Russell hit it off after meeting through mutual friends.

She was drawn to her family values. The pair has since spent time on Russell’s 75m superyacht M/Y Lady E which costs $767,840 a week to charter.

“Our first date was in a carpark outside Elwood Bathers having a margarita,’’ Kazeme said.

“It was really cute and we kept getting to know each other. We just hit it off and we have the same values when it comes to family. One thing that really attracted me is how much she loves her family.

“She’s a very caring person and I am, too.”

Imogen Russell with Shadi Kazeme.

The pair will marry at St Michael’s Church in the city before a celebration with 180 guests at Carousel. Russell will wear a dress by Pallas Couture and Kazeme a suit by P. Johnson tailors.

David Russell grew up in Moorabbin and moved back to Melbourne two years ago after spending time in Asia.

He celebrated his birthday last December with a James Bond-themed birthday party aboard the superyacht that includes four levels of spacious decks, a day spa, gym, heated on-board pool and aquapark.

Russell, who attended Brighton Grammar and Monash University, sold Equis Energy, which he founded in 2011, for (US) $5bn in 2017.