Sabrina Durante and Ryan Hayes’ lavish Gold Coast hinterland wedding

From the bride’s extravagant, bejewelled wedding gown and stunning headpiece to a horse and carriage, strict guest dress code and bespoke cutlery, we take you inside what could be Queensland’s wedding of the year.

It was a wedding to remember. From an extravagant, bejewelled wedding gown and stunning headpiece to a horse and carriage, strict guest dress code and bespoke cutlery, Sabrina Durante and Ryan Hayes loved every moment of their lavish Gold Coast hinterland wedding.

Sabrina, a performer in the Gold Coast’s Australian Outback Spectacular, and landscaper Ryan tied the knot at The Valley Estate in Currumbin Valley on April 27 this year before 100 guests in a grand, French provincial-themed wedding where guests were asked to wear black tie for the men and pastel colour formal/evening gowns for the ladies.

The couple, who have been together for almost three years, added surprises with Sabrina, a singer, dancer, actor and NIDA graduate, performing with friends in the music industry and dedicating a song to her husband.

How did you meet? In 2020 on a double blind date at The Tropic in Burleigh. It was love at first sight! Some friends of mine came to watch the show I’m in at the Australian Outback Spectacular and, during post-show cocktails, they were prompted to set me up with their good friend. It was organised for the following week where all four of us met in Burleigh.

The proposal? We were taking a romantic holiday on Moreton Island with our best friends and he proposed to me on a private beach during cocktails at sunset.

Hen’s night? The Gold Coast pink glamourfest, three-gown-change day started with a bubbly lunch at La Luna Beach Club, followed by glamorous cocktails at The Glitz show in the Birdcage at Pink Flamingo, then revelry in the Penthouse at the Langham Gold Coast.

Buck’s night? An adventurous weekend in Melbourne began at URBNSURF followed by watching an AFL game at the MCG.

How and why did you choose your wedding venue? My aunt recommended it and we fell in love with it immediately.

What was the budget for your wedding? More than I expected! But definitely not enough for the wonderful day we had.

What would you spend more or less on? Nothing, it was a perfect day.

How did you go about choosing your wedding dress? Sabrina: The gown was designed by a longtime friend who knows my tastes and whom I trust implicitly. No fittings, no trying on, in all honesty just a load of fun! Richard de Chazal works from a personalised body cast that is done before the gown is made so the first fitting is really trying on an almost complete gown. I received the gown 10 days before the wedding when we did a test run of hair and makeup and photography to make sure all the elements came together perfectly.

Tell us about your cake. We had a traditional pearlised ivory three-tier fruit cake decorated with cascading fresh blooms and a white chocolate mud cake topped with a subtle blend of lemon, lime and fresh raspberries covered in a rich white chocolate ganache.

Can you describe the details on your dress and your headpiece? The first gown and headpiece were inspired by the idea of 18th-century extravagance in the court of Versailles.

The bodice of the gown is a jewelled garden of gilded and crystal blossoms giving way to rose quartz, opal and frosted tourmaline tendrils into an explosion of sumptuous ivory 3D embellished lace and beaded tulle over gold brocade petticoats.

There are literally thousands of jewels on it – Richard as per usual does not keep count but just keeps on adding until he is absolutely satisfied!

The second gown is purely old Hollywood, a layered rose gold, platinum and ivory beaded bodice of fine French laces with a voluminous feathered skirt.

What thoughts did you have while waiting for the bride? Ryan: All I could think about was wanting Sabrina to share the altar with me.

What was the most stressful part of wedding planning? The ongoing interruptions of supply due to Covid – our bespoke cutlery and crockery arrived hours before the reception!

Can you describe the intricate details at your reception? The room was full of pastel blooms, crystal vases, baroque boiserie, chandeliers and what seemed like a thousand French pear-scented candles.

Any unique or surprising details about your wedding? It was a day of musical celebrations that included surprise performances and guest artists made possible by all the treasured colleagues I have in the music industry and from my wonderful and talented NIDA classmates with whom I performed a song dedicated to my husband.

What was the standout moment of the day? Seeing my future husband at the altar.

What was a wedding non-negotiable for you? Strictly black tie. We both wanted a magical and glamorous experience.

The Bride

Sabrina Durante, 26

Profession Entertainer

Parents Simon and Kim Durante

Bridesmaids Taylor Troeth & Isabella Whittingham

Dress, hair and make-up Richard de Chazal

Flowers Florals and Co

Wedding planner/stylist Lisa Ford from Stylize Events and Richard de Chazal

Celebrant John Catterall

Caterer The Valley Estate

The Groom

Ryan Hayes, 28

Profession Landscaper (Hayescape Construction)

Parents Terry and Alison Hayes

Groomsmen Cam Bitmead and Sam Tomlinson

Suit Bruno’s Suits

Entertainment:
DJ WERDJS, Saxophone Brooksey, Canapés Mitchell Steele
Chapel performances Justin Rynne

Transport Arrival, horse and carriage and exit vehicle, Bentley

Videographer Evernew Studio

Originally published as Sabrina Durante and Ryan Hayes’ lavish Gold Coast hinterland wedding