Charlene and Scott, Sally and Flynn, Kath and Kel: Aussie TV weddings we fell in love with
Stage 4 coronavirus restrictions may have banned weddings in Victoria, but don’t worry, you can still channel that warm, fuzzy feeling by reliving the best Australian TV weddings.
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Another six weeks stuck at home seems like a lifetime right now, but we’ve got you covered for daily entertainment.
Lockdown Life, a digital subscriber special, will give you a five minute brain break from coronavirus and arm you with some handy tips as well on keeping the family busy with movies to watch and bike rides to enjoy, and the adults well stocked with wine and recipes ideas — just to name a few.
So keep an eye out each lunchtime online.
Today we revisit our favourite Australian TV weddings.
CHARLENE MITCHELL AND SCOTT ROBINSON
NEIGHBOURS
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan are still to this day remembered and celebrated for the wedding of their characters Charlene Mitchell and Scott Robinson on Neighbours in 1987.
The episode had two million viewers in Australia when it aired and a huge 19.6 million when it screened in Britain four months later. It is one of the most memorable Australian TV storylines.
The wedding was filmed at The Holy Trinity Church in Doncaster and Minogue’s lacy, romantic gown was made by Isis of Melbourne.
SHANE PARRISH AND ANGEL BROOKS
HOME AND AWAY
Tears flowed and heart strings were tugged with Shane Parrish, played by Dieter Brummer, and Angel Brooks, played by Melissa George, tied the knot on Home And Away in 1995. George’s character Angel faced a number of obstacles in her quest to wed Parrish.
She arrived in Summer Bay as a teenage runaway and after initially not getting along with Parrish finally fell for him. As they planned their wedding, Angel was accidentally hit by a car driven by Home And Away stalwart Alf Stewart. Determined to go ahead with the marriage she arrived at the church in her wheelchair before standing up and walking shakily down the aisle. Cue tears.
KATH DAY AND KEL KNIGHT
KATH AND KIM
Not everything can go to plan at a wedding but for Kath Day (played by Jane Turner) not a lot went right. A bizarre chain of events made this one of the funniest Kath and Kim episodes. It is a complicated list of strange occurrences that ended up with Kath marrying Kel Knight (Glenn Robbins). In summary Kath suffered a horse hair allergy due to Kim’s hair extensions, Kel, who was worried that Kath wouldn’t turn up and that he would be left at the altar for the fifth time, got stuck into the booze and ended up very wobbly by the time rings were exchanged, Sharon’s perm blew out and Kim was mounted by a horse after the steed pulling the pumpkin coach went on a rampage. It all makes sense when you watch it.
VICKY DEAN AND SIMON BOWEN
A COUNTRY PRACTICE
The wedding of Vicky Dean (Penny Cook) and Simon Bowen (Grant Dodwell) was a ratings boom for A Country Practice when it aired in 1983. It was one of the most watched episodes in the history of the long-running series and made Cook and Bowen Australia’s sweethearts. Poor vet Vicky had to save a racehorse on the morning of her wedding. The Eiffel Tower shaped wedding cake crashed off the roof of chef Cookie’s car. After dealing with injured animals and a flat tyre, Vicky finally makes it to the church on time, making her arrival standing up in the back of a ute so her dress would not get crumpled.
DONNA FREEDMAN AND RINGO BROWN
NEIGHBOURS
Hollywood was still a dream for Margot Robbie when she walked down the aisle on Neighbours. It was 2010 when Donna Freedman (Robbie) wed Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) in the 6000th episode of the iconic Australian soap. The pair’s relationship started with a peck in a kissing booth and peaked with Donna arriving at the church in the back of a ute driven by an off duty policeman. In a link to the famous Scott and Charlene wedding, Donna entered the church with the song Suddenly playing. Love has never run smoothly on soap operas and sadly for Donna her romance with Ringo was short lived. The Ringo character was killed off a month after the wedding with Donna departing soon after. Donna’s exit was to allow Robbie to seek bigger opportunities in America … and she certainly found them!
SALLY FLETCHER AND DR FLYNN SAUNDERS
HOME AND AWAY
Home And Away fans just wanted to see Sally Fletcher find her Prince Charming and live happily ever after in Summer Bay, but in true soapy style, the fairytale simply could not happen for the show’s sweetheart. Sally, played by Kate Ritchie, was seen in a wedding dress on three occasions during her 20 years on the show but only managed to tie the knot on one occasion. She bolted from her first wedding after her husband-to-be, Kieran Fletcher (Spencer McLaren), was revealed as a love rat, then in June 2003, covered in mud after being tossed out of a horse drawn carriage on the way to the ceremony, she married Dr Flynn Saunders (Joel McIlroy). Sadly Dr Flynn succumbed to cancer. With her heart still mending Sally decided to try for a third time lucky, but dumped Brad Armstrong (Chris Sadrinna) on their wedding day after realising she was still getting over Dr Flynn’s death.
BEN RAFTER AND MELISSA BANNON
PACKED TO THE RAFTERS
More than 2 million people watched Ben Rafter (Hugh Sheridan) and Melissa Bannon (Zoe Ventoura) wed on the hit show Packed To The Rafters in 2009. Mel’s 1950s style lace gown that sat just above the knee was a winner with fans and no doubt inspired garden weddings later that year. As for the episode, well, Ben got told by a stripper at his bucks night that he was not good enough for Mel, a sentiment reiterated the next day by Mel’s parents. Ben then made the very rational decision to do a runner and for a moment it looked like we were going to have a runaway groom. But luckily his brother Nathan found him and talked sense into him, convincing Ben to make a late arrival to the wedding where his nervous bride awaited.
BILLIE PROUDMAN AND MICK HOLLAND
OFFSPRING
Offspring was a drama where relationships rarely were simple or enduring so fans were naturally delighted when Billie Proudman (Kat Stewart) and Mick Holland (Eddie Perfect) finally tied the knot after plenty of rocky moments in 2011. But, of course, the wedding did not go to plan. After being kicked out of their original wedding venue, Billie and Mick quickly change plans and exchange vows at the Union Club Hotel Pub.
TONI WINDSOR AND CRAIG ‘CJ’ JONES
E STREET
Love really did cure all when Toni Windsor, (played by Toni Pearon) wed reformed bad-boy Craig ‘CJ’ Jones (Adrian Lee) on E Street in 1992. It was a dramatic road to the altar for the pair. Not long after their engagement, CJ was hit by a car and lost his sight. But then as Toni walked down the aisle towards him, in a memorable pink satin wedding gown, CJ miraculously regained his sight. As I said, love really does cure all in the land of soap.
STEVIE HALL AND ALEX RYAN
MCLEOD’S DAUGHTERS
It is easy to forget just how popular McLeod’s Daughters was in the early 2000s. Set in rural South Australia, the good-looking cast spent plenty of time galloping around on horses and hanging around in the hay. And, inevitably, love blossomed amid the dust, dirt and drama.
In 2007 the wedding between Stevie Hall (Simmone Jayde McKinnon) and Alex Ryan (Aaron Jeffrey) had it all. After getting engaged in a paddock full of flowers, Stevie and her bridesmaids arrived at her wedding on horseback. Alex meanwhile got himself arrested on the eve of the wedding for cattle theft and needed to get out of jail and run back to the farm in time for the ceremony. Topping it all was Stevie’s dress, an unusual gown with purple panelling in the back. It just added to the drama.
MORE NEWS: