Just a few weeks after emigrating to Australia from Northern England in 2015, Dean met Madison and the rest was history.
The couple, Dean an offshore pipe fitter and Madison a primary school teacher, got engaged while holidaying in Bali in 2018 and finally said ‘I do’ on December 20, 2021 after pandemic-related delays.
Although special family members from the UK couldn’t make the ceremony, a special video of well-wishes from Australian icon Shannon Noll put a smile on everyone’s face at the reception.
In a true sign of the times, the couple decided on the hashtag #bishoptakestheking for the occasion, which made all of their chess-loving attendees chuckle.
Madison’s father survived a severe cardiac arrest just days before his daughter’s big day, but in a heartwarming miracle, he was able to walk her down the aisle alongside her mother, making for an emotional father-daughter dance afterwards.
when and where
The couple tied the knot at Rifle Range North in Kings Park, overlooking the sublime Perth city skyline.
Dress
Madison’s intricate dress was from North Fremantle bridal store Grace Loves Lace, along with her veil.
honeymoon
The pair did not go on a honeymoon but are planning a special trip to England to see Dean’s family.
It’s a long way from the bright lights of Las Vegas, but a little white chapel in outback Queensland has become the perfect backdrop for couples to rekindle their burning love in front of the King.
Elvis impersonator Steven Minhinnick has never ventured so far west, but his vocal cords worked overtime as he officiated over a mass ceremony for nine couples renewing their vows.
“To come down to a place like Dirranbandi, it is a real experience,” the Sunshine Coast-based performer said of the town, about 580 kilometers south-west of Brisbane.
“Not in a fit I would ever have dreamt I’d be down here.
“It was daunting but I absolutely loved it.”
Brisbane couple Ken and Dorene Ord have been married for 31 years but could not resist the opportunity to walk down the aisle again during their western Queensland road trip.
“We actually renew our vows any chance we get,” Mr Ord said.
“Sometimes when you’re on a cruise and the captain says he’ll do it, we line up, but we’d always wanted to be married by the King so we couldn’t pass up the chance.
“I thought the conga line through the confetti was the best part.”
The Ords said they couldn’t wait to tell the story to their children and grandchildren.
“They won’t be surprised. They’ll say: ‘You renewed your vows again?'” Mr Ord said.
“We’re lucky,” Mrs Ord said.
“We know it doesn’t happen for a lot of people [staying together] but it happened for us.”
a real laugh
Kelly Walters from the nearby town of Mungindi donned her original wedding dress to re-commit to her husband, Nathan.
It brought back many happy memories.
“I started working out at the feedlot and Nathan was already there and we were sort of looking at each other and got to know each other and it snowballed from there,” Ms Walters said.
“[Sunday was] actually our second wedding anniversary and we saw that this was on so we thought, well, alright we’ll go,” Mr Walters said.
“It has been a real laugh.”
Dirranbandi caravan park and chapel owner Nikki Pulfer said the mass ceremony was more than a celebration of love and music.
Ms Pulfer spent a lot of time during the pandemic restoring the chapel, only for floods to impact the region’s peak tourism season this year.
She then decided to do something different to draw in visitors.
“I honestly couldn’t think of a more fun way than to have a renewal ceremony.
“When the road closures happen, it does isolate us and it does cause this sense of fear for travellers; they don’t want to get stuck here.
“But maybe if we can show them how beautiful it is, and how we do have some quirky events like this one and that we do have fun — it’s not all doom and gloom, that’s what it’s about.”
Love in the air
Covered head to toe in rhinestones and with a backdrop Elvis soundtrack, Mr Minhinnick was hard to miss as he brought a spectacle to town.
“The outfits … I put on the suit and I just sort of get into character and morph into it and then know it’s showtime,” he said.
While Elvis has now left the building, Ms Pulfer is considering holding the event again to bring a little bit of Las Vegas glitz to Dirranbandi.
“Absolutely, if I’ve got anything to do with it,” she said.
As weddings make a post-Covid comeback and cost-of-living pressures bite, couples are getting savvy about that all-important thing – the engagement ring.
Before the pandemic, many women set their sights on the idea of the perfect ring, typically a big rock with an expensive price tag.
However, as couples look to break social norms and rein in spending, they are seeking an alternative.
Fake rings are making a comeback not just for fashion purposes but also to symbolize the promise of marriage as more people propose with them.
Jewelry company Sterling Forever posted a reel to Instagram explaining why more men and women are now proposing with fake rings.
The video outlined how more couples were jumping on the trend to avoid mistakes such as sizing issues and the receiver not liking the ring, as returning or exchanging it can be costly and difficult.
The reel concluded with the idea that once engaged, couples could go out and buy the perfect ring together.
While it may seem controversial, particularly for some unsatisfied receivers who were proposed to with a fake engagement ring, there’s plenty of support for the practice.
“I think this (idea) is so much better but honestly the fake ring could be like a ring pop or even a paper ring with a love note hidden in it, much cheaper and super cute,” one commenter said in response to the post .
Another replied: “I’d rather have a ‘fake’ and then we can save the money for something more important,”
And a third responded: “Why buy me an expensive engagement ring and an expensive wedding ring? Y’all see them (petrol) prices and the price for bread, just give me one ring.”
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Other viewers of the video came up with their own suggestions as to why women may prefer fake rings over the real deal, including for practicality, for not losing an expensive ring and to avoid feeling guilty after a proposal “accident.”
“I feel like people also do it in case they lose it at the proposal sites, lots of them being at beaches or hiking spots,” one Instagram user suggested.
While the trend may be more popular now, some commenters said their parents used a similar approach in the past for personal reasons.
“My dad got my mom a garnet ring. It’s her favorite de ella and her birthstone de ella, with ‘will you marry me’ and the date engraved. They went shopping for her ring together and I think it’s pretty. I always wanted to inherit it,” one young woman commented.
“My dad proposed to my mom with a minnie mouse ring so she wouldn’t feel pressured and I think it’s the cutest thing,” said another.
But not everyone saw the convenient nature of the fake ring trend, with some saying it goes against the purpose of an engagement ring as a symbol of everlasting commitment.
“If she doesn’t like the ring, she isn’t the one,” one commenter said.
“That’s stupid, a real man should know what his wife likes and what kind of jewelry she wears,” posted another.
“There’s no such thing as a fake engagement ring, there is only a fake stone,” a third said.
But a fake engagement ring isn’t necessarily a sign of lesser commitment, as some proposers purchase a ‘promise ring’ or cheaper alternative, with the goal of buying a better one that meets their partner’s wishes later on. Other fake rings are homemade.
No matter the ring choice, couples who have already jumped on the buying a ring together trend said the experience is one they highly recommend.
“Choosing the engagement ring together is a whole amazing experience and shows a very high level of commitment, that’s what me and my fiance did,” one commenter said.
Another said: “My fiance and I shopped for my ring together and it was the best thing ever. We fell in love with (the) ring together.”
Sydney neurosurgeon Charlie Teo could be trading scrubs for a wedding suit soon after revealing social media posts hinted he has recently become engaged to his girlfriend Traci Griffiths.
The couple met when Ms Griffiths sought Dr Teo’s expert advice in 2009, although they did not begin dating until 11 years later after the brain surgeon split from his wife.
Dr Teo previously operated on WA girl Amelia ‘Milli’ Lucas, who captured the hearts of the nation during her brave cancer battle. The 14-year-old lost her cancer battle in January 2021.
Wedding rumors have followed the well-known surgeon and his former patient for more than a year, but it appears there may now be some truth to the whispers.
Ms Griffiths, a vegan activist and fitness influencer, has used revealing hashtags in pictures of the couple to hint at the change in their relationship status.
The former model has consistently tagged photos of her and Dr Teo with references to “#myhero” and “#mybestfriend” during their relationship, but she upgraded the hashtags in May to “#myfiance” and “#ilovemyfiance”.
The revelations are buried in a number of hashtags attached to photos of Ms Griffiths at the Charlie Teo Foundation Ball more than two months ago.
The engagement hints continued in June with pictures of the costumed couple attending a Great Gastby themed birthday party.
Photos from the night are captioned with the same fiance hashtags and a nod to Dr Teo’s paperboy outfit.
After dropping the tantalizing suggestions, Ms Griffiths has remained quiet on the topic of her relationship.
The animal activist hasn’t posted any further photos of the couple on her social media accounts and there have been no more revealing hashtags.
Neither she nor Dr Teo responded to requests for comments about the engagement.
The exciting hints come as Dr Teo has taken a step back from his work as a neurosurgeon after conditions were imposed on his medical registration last year following complaints from colleagues.
In August 2021, the Medical Council of NSW banned Dr Teo from performing high-risk surgeries without the written approval from a second independent neurosurgeon.
The restrictions will remain in place until next month.
Prior to the review of his medical practices, Dr Teo had built his reputation by operating on those with incurable or inoperable brain cancers.
Sydney neurosurgeon Charlie Teo could be trading scrubs for a wedding suit soon after revealing social media posts hinted he has recently become engaged to his girlfriend Traci Griffiths.
The couple met when Ms Griffiths sought Dr Teo’s expert advice in 2009, although they did not begin dating until 11 years later after the brain surgeon split from his wife.
Dr Teo previously operated on WA girl Amelia ‘Milli’ Lucas, who captured the hearts of the nation during her brave cancer battle. The 14-year-old lost her cancer battle in January 2021.
Wedding rumors have followed the well-known surgeon and his former patient for more than a year, but it appears there may now be some truth to the whispers.
Ms Griffiths, a vegan activist and fitness influencer, has used revealing hashtags in pictures of the couple to hint at the change in their relationship status.
The former model has consistently tagged photos of her and Dr Teo with references to “#myhero” and “#mybestfriend” during their relationship, but she upgraded the hashtags in May to “#myfiance” and “#ilovemyfiance”.
The revelations are buried in a number of hashtags attached to photos of Ms Griffiths at the Charlie Teo Foundation Ball more than two months ago.
The engagement hints continued in June with pictures of the costumed couple attending a Great Gastby themed birthday party.
Photos from the night are captioned with the same fiance hashtags and a nod to Dr Teo’s paperboy outfit.
After dropping the tantalizing suggestions, Ms Griffiths has remained quiet on the topic of her relationship.
The animal activist hasn’t posted any further photos of the couple on her social media accounts and there have been no more revealing hashtags.
Neither she nor Dr Teo responded to requests for comments about the engagement.
The exciting hints come as Dr Teo has taken a step back from his work as a neurosurgeon after conditions were imposed on his medical registration last year following complaints from colleagues.
In August 2021, the Medical Council of NSW banned Dr Teo from performing high-risk surgeries without the written approval from a second independent neurosurgeon.
The restrictions will remain in place until next month.
Prior to the review of his medical practices, Dr Teo had built his reputation by operating on those with incurable or inoperable brain cancers.
Registered nurse Sugan and business development manager Divyashree had their hearts set on breaking the rule for traditional wedding attire, and it was a hit with their guests.
The pair donned green outfits, as opposed to the typical black and white get-up, and shared their glorious big day with beloved friends and family who flew over from Singapore especially.
Their two best friends co-ordinated the big day, and nailed every element from start to finish.
when and where
The couple hired out Mills Park in Beckenham on June 3, 2022, which was a perfect fit for their extended family reunion.
Dress
Finding a dress for any bride can have its challenges, but throwing a colored element into the mix made it just that much harder for Divyashree.
But with perseverance, and a lot of research, she found her perfect gown from Sentani Boutique in Queensland.
honeymoon
After not being able to travel for two years, the couple plan to visit the picturesque Maldives for their honeymoon.