Secret Italian elopement for glamorous daughter of ex-AFL footy club boss

The daughter of ex-St Kilda footy club boss Rod Butterss has tied the knot in a glamorous secret Italian elopement at a historic Venetian neo-Gothic style 19th century villa.

Melbourne couple Ash Butterss and Damian Barwood are celebrating their wedding in Europe. Picture: Darya Ivanova

Holistic transformation coach, podcaster and sober living advocate Ash Butterss has tied the knot – twice.

Butterss, the daughter of ex-St Kilda Football Club president Rod Butterss, and her partner Damian Barwood wed at the Melbourne Registry office on June 23 before heading to Europe where they romantically “eloped”, with a second wedding ceremony at the glamorous Isola del Garda at Lake Garda in northern Italy on July 1.

Ash Butterss and Damian Barwood on a boat on Lake Garda celebrating their wedding. Picture: Darya Ivanova

Butterss wore a chic bridal gown from Grace Loves Lace for the elegant Italian elopement.

The newlyweds have been enjoying a glorious sunsoaked honeymoon visiting Rome, the Amalfi Coast, Paris, Montenegro, and Greece.

“The day before we flew to Europe we were married in the most intimate way, surrounded by our immediate families, wrapped in love, laughter, and a few happy tears,” Butterss said in a social post.

“We decided to keep it just between us for a little while. No announcements, no posts, just allowing the joy of what we’d done to truly land.

Podcaster and holistic transformation coach Ash Butterss and Damian Barwood had a registry wedding in Melbourne. Picture: Matthew Krueger

“Then we boarded a plane and eloped, hearts full, rings on, floating on cloud nine.

“We kept the elopement a secret so that we could be together when we shared the news from our honeymoon, side by side, still floating.

“It wasn’t traditional, but it was deeply us. And it couldn’t have been more perfect.”

Butterss wore white dress and jacket from Scanlan and Theodore for her registry wedding.

Butterss hosts the podcast Behind the Smile which aims to remove the stigma around mental health, trauma and addiction.

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