The couple honoured tradition with a modern Catholic ceremony and Ashleigh ’ s father walked her down the aisle . “ He means the world to me , and we nearly lost him in the floods this year , so the magnitude of having him there to do that tradition was very emotional ,” she says . The bride wore her grandmother ’ s sapphire necklace and the reception ’ s giant cannoli ‘ cake ’ also spoke to family connections . “ Michael ’ s family is Maltese so it was nice to incorporate one of their traditional desserts ,” says Ashleigh .” It was also the first dessert we ever had together in Florence , Italy .” While the day looks a laugh a minute , the couple were forced to navigate a few challenges . “ We lost about 20 guests through the international border situation so we had a facebook livestream ( though the feed dropped out right at our first kiss !!),” says Ashleigh . A last-minute ceremony change was also testing , with the rain bringing “ I do ” indoors . “ At the time it was devastating , but it absolutely poured during our ceremony so it was a good call !” admits the bride . Among the forever memories was an intimate first dance , enjoyed beneath the festoon lights . “ It was a special moment ,” Ashleigh recalls . “ Though , when Michael went to dip me , every vertebra in his back cracked . I thought he wasn ’ t going to be able to walk back up to the reception !”

[ Left ] The couple managed to dodge the rain clouds for their portraits . [ Top ] Styling cues were taken from the country locale . [ Below ] The moonlit dip that almost ended in traction . First dance song Can ’ t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli was Michael ’ s grandmother ’ s favourite . [ Below ] Tearing it up .

“ The priest was the day ’ s MVP ” she adds . “ He cracked jokes throughout the ceremony , and later belted out a rendition of Horses on the dancefloor ! Our nephews and niece also crashed our wedding portraits and my parents owned the dancefloor with their signature Footloose routine .” Love . With the confetti settled on their glorious country nuptials , the newlyweds made tracks for Port Douglas . “ We were meant to be headed to the Amalfi Coast but Port Douglas is an excellent second choice ,” says Ashleigh . “ As long as there are Aperol Spritzes !”

DREAM TEAM

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60 Winter 2022