We asked people in Marrickville for their thoughts on Albo’s wedding, have your say here
People living in Anthony Albanese’s electorate have told us what they think of the wedding, now tell us what you think - did it pass the pub test?
Anthony Albanese made history on Saturday by becoming the first prime minister to get married while in office.
The Prime Minister and Jodie Haydon tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at The Lodge. with some 40 people in attendance.
In Mr Albanese’s electorate of Grayndler in Sydney’s inner west, Marrickville locals said the Labor leader deserved to experience his wedding as a person, rather than as the nation’s leader.
David Volkofsky said he had only caught glimpses of the event on his phone through social media but wished the couple well.
“He’s a nice guy, and she looks like a lovely lady.”
“Weddings are very intimate events and seeing family there means that they’ve got good personal relationships with people, which would make them better humans.”
“I’m just glad he did it in Australia, really,” he added jokingly.
Sarah Jane, another local, said that while she was “not really interested in the details of his wedding,” she praised the benefits of a private ceremony.
“You can keep it true to what you want as an individual. It’s an important moment (that should be) about his wife, and his family, and them enjoying that day and not having the pressure of what people expect of them”.
The couple will now go on a short domestic honeymoon from Monday to Friday, with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong to take stints as Acting Prime Minister.
Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon, dressed in Australian labels M.J. Bale and Romance Was Born respectively, entered their reception to Beyonce classic Crazy in Love.
Who was there and who wasn’t
Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said “there was certainly a dance floor” which featured “very tailored music and dancing”.
“It was just a lovely night, a lovely day, a lovely afternoon, and the PM and Jodie were just thrilled with how it all went down and yeah, hopefully they’re resting this morning,” said Ms Gallagher.
Although Ms Gallagher didn’t partake, she said the tow-tier wedding cake was “beautiful” and cut following touching speeches by Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon.
Nathan, Mr Albanese’s 24-year-old son who he shared with his first wife and former NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt, also spoke.
According to News.com.au, in addition to Ms Gallagher, other members of Mr Albanese’s “inner sanctum” were invited, including Health Minister Mark Butler, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and relatively junior ministers Tim Ayres and Jenny McAllister.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Trade Minister Don Farrell were all invited but several high-profile Labor figures did not make the cut.
While she did congratulate the couple on social media, frontbencher Tanya Plibersek was not invited.
Energy Minister Chris Bowen, Education Minister Jason Clare, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, Employment Minister Amanda Rishworth and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King also did not get an invite, according to news.com.au.
Leaders from across the aisle, abroad congratulate the PM
Politicians across the aisle have also congratulated Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon.
Sussan Ley backed the couple using The Lodge as their wedding venue and wished the couple “every happiness”.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud said Ms Hayden had “already stepped up on the international stage and represented us in such a classy way for some time”.
“I hope he has a bit of a break now. I think we all need a break, but good on him and I wish him every happiness,” he told ABC.
“I couldn’t be happier for the pair of them.”
World leaders also sent their regards on social media.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney re-shared the video of Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon walking down the aisle on X and wrote: “Congratulations, @alboMP. Diana and I send all best wishes”.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi wrote: “Congratulations to my good friend, PM Anthony Albanese and Ms. Jodie Haydon on their wedding. Wishing them a happy married life”.
Why notable family member was absent
While Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at The Lodge, there was one notable absentee among the 40-odd guests.
Ms Haydon’s beloved grandmother Claire, who is 96 years old and lives on NSW’s Central Coast, was unable to attend the interstate wedding due to her age and travel logistics.
However a source said she was “spoken very fondly of by many people” during the ceremony and reception.
“She was clearly a very important figure in her life,” they said.
Ms Haydon has credited her grandmother, a former teacher, staunch Labor voter and mother-of-nine, as being a significant source of inspiration.
“She had nine children and was a schoolteacher. Today that would seem almost insurmountable – nine kids and a career,” she told the Australian Women’s Weekly in 2024.
In the same interview she paid tribute to Claire’s resilience and tenacity.
“She is simply remarkable. Her cheeky sense of humour and ‘just get on with it’ attitude have been a driving force for me,” Ms Haydon continued.
“Her life wasn’t easy, growing up in the country with no electricity as a child, living off the land, going through times of trauma and hardship, then putting herself through teachers’ college.
“It shows true grit and determination. She is the glue that holds our large extended family together, and I love her dearly.”
Originally published as We asked people in Marrickville for their thoughts on Albo’s wedding, have your say here
