Natalie Cook: Qld Olympian weds Sarah Maxwell at Montville
OLYMPIC gold medal beach volleyballer Natalie Cook has shared intimate details and pictures of her long-awaited legal marriage to a fellow female player at an idyllic Queensland hideaway.
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OLYMPIC gold medallist Natalie Cook and fellow beach volleyballer Canadian Sarah Maxwell were on opposite teams when they first met. The couple, who competed against each other on a volleyball world tour in 2001, tied the knot at Secrets on the Lake, at Montville, in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
It was the second wedding ceremony for the women, who live at Fig Tree Pocket in Brisbane’s southwest, but the first legal one.
Natalie’s dad Brian walked both women down the aisle behind their two-year-old daughter, Jordan Natalie Maxwell.
NATALIE COOK, 43
PROFESSION Retired pro athlete – beach volleyball
PARENTS Brian and Bev Cook
DRESS Helena Couture Designs, Gold Coast – pants with a sleeveless tux tail and Swarovski crystal buttons.
HAIR/MAKEUP Leah Svanberg – Grace and Style Beauty
CAKE Krista Pappas – Chocolate ganache (she made our first one 10 years ago)
ENTERTAINMENT An iPod with a playlist of our favourite Spotify tunes
SARAH MAXWELL, 41
PROFESSION Retired pro athlete – beach volleyball
PARENTS Vicki Patton
DRESS Helena Couture Designs, Gold Coast – a backless dress with a high side split and Swarovski crystals and feathers.
HAIR/MAKEUP Leah Svanberg – Grace and Style Beauty
TRANSPORT Stayed on site, so we walked down.
FLOWERS Ginger Lily & Rose Floral Studio, Caloundra
Was there a proposal?
I wish we could say there was a romantic night, but we didn’t ever think this day would come. After the [SSM] plebiscite we discussed whether we should get married legally (having already had a ceremony in Queenstown, New Zealand, in 2008) and we decided that although we didn’t need to emotionally, we would honour the plebiscite and the people who put themselves on the front line and fought for our rights.
What was the theme?
The wooden treehouse and rainforest. The natural setting, and love and gratitude.
First dance song?
I’ve Had the Time of my Life [by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes] – we’d practised the lift at home, with me [Natalie] lifting Sarah, but we decided at the last minute to do a “run past” instead. We aren’t dancers, but I did do the “Swayze dip”.
Honeymoon?
An extra night at Secrets, and we’re off to Switzerland this month for 12 months.
What made this uniquely your wedding?
It was the first legal same-sex wedding at Secrets on the Lake. We had a lot of expressions of gratitude for a beautiful life.
Any special memories from the day?
Our daughter joining us – to think she wasn’t there for our first wedding is weird.
Rather than exchanging rings, we chose to do a necklace exchange, which also included a smaller necklace for Jordan.
Advice for couples planning a wedding?
Have one person co-ordinating – not too many cooks in the kitchen. It keeps things simple yet purposeful.
Originally published as Natalie Cook: Qld Olympian weds Sarah Maxwell at Montville
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