Two grooms have won ‘wedding of the year’ for 2019 after putting on a spectacular display of waterfall fireworks, a costume change and guest appearance from Real Housewives of Melbourne star Gina Liano in a celebration that was ‘uniquely them’.
Daniel, 36 and Michael Montgomery-Morgan, 34, from Melbourne, tied the knot on April 5, 2019, eight years after meeting through their mutual hairdresser in 2011.
The special day, which saw the reception congregate at the luxurious Metropolis Events in Southbank, cost the couple $120,000 because they didn’t want their friends and family to shell out anything on travel, accommodation or clothing.
‘The original budget we had in mind was $45,000 but things add up very quickly. Hiring one strip of carpet costs $1,000 for a wedding. We paid for all the wedding party’s clothes, our parents and my aunt flew over from London,’ Michael told FEMAIL.
Daniel, 36 and Michael Montgomery-Morgan, 34, who are based in Melbourne, tied the knot on April 5, 2019 eight years after meeting through their mutual hairdresser in 2011
The couple had a mixed-gender wedding party filled with their closest friends and siblings (pictured)
‘We didn’t want them to spend anything extra. Both Daniel and I work really hard and save really hard. We’ve wanted this for a long time and did it all on our own.’
That family-orientated sentiment harks back to the couple’s original meeting, when Daniel was taking care of a terminally ill grandparent.
It was Michael’s patience with Daniel during this time, and deep understanding, that turned four months of casual dating into a full-blown relationship.
Their courtship culminated in a proposal on Daniel’s 30th birthday – ‘Michael stole the limelight that day’ – with Daniel giving him an identical ring back on his partner’s birthday.
But when same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia in December 2017 the men were in no rush to walk down the aisle, somewhat hesitant to share their nuptials given ‘there were a number of people who voted no’.
It was Michael’s patience with Daniel during this time, and deep understand, that turned four months of casual dating into a full-blown relationship (pictured getting ready)
But when same-sex marriage was legalised in Australia in December 2017 the men were in no rush to walk down the aisle, somewhat hesitant to share their nuptials given ‘there were a number of people who voted no’
They needn’t have worried, with 12 months of planning leading to the most ‘positive’ experience with everyone from the vendors to the public who witnessed their wedding photos being taken on the streets of Melbourne cheering them on.
‘People actually clapped and congratulated us when we were posing for photos in public. It was a really memorable moment from the day,’ Daniel said.
The pair wanted to follow ‘some traditions’ but also wanted it to feel like ‘their day’ and the ceremony was a reflection of both of their personalities.
So they got ready together, reading letters they had written to each other, had a mixed-gender wedding party and both of their ‘very supportive’ parents walked them down the aisle.
As the ‘master organiser’, Michael was tasked with the spreadsheet and budgets, allowing for them to wear both a tux and a glitter suit each for the formal aspects and the reception, with a bit of ‘drama’ in pyrotechnics and confetti for the latter part of the evening.
As the ‘master organiser’ Michael was tasked with the spreadsheet and budgets, allowing for them to wear both a tux and a glitter suit each for the formal aspects and the reception, with a bit of ‘drama’ in pyrotechnics and confetti for the latter part of the evening
They had the most ‘epic’ amount of flowers on the tables and around the outskirts of the setting, knowing they wanted to decorate their hugely popular venue to the ‘extreme’
They had the most ‘epic’ amount of flowers on the tables and around the outskirts of the setting, knowing they wanted to decorate their hugely popular venue to the ‘extreme’.
‘When you walk into the space it’s just mind-blowing,’ Daniel said.
Gina Liano’s surprise entrance as their celebrant was a huge part of the day, with both men wanting to ‘treat’ their guests to her fabulous charms.
‘We have a great friendship with her and she had recently become a civil celebrant. She was so down-to-earth,’ Daniel said.
One piece of advice they received before the wedding was to take a moment together, step back and take it all in before the night was over.
‘Those were good words of wisdom because we did that and it was one of my favourite parts of the day,’ Michael said.
One piece of advice they received before the wedding was to take a moment together, step back and take it all in before the night was over
The space they rented overlooked Melbourne’s Southbank region, and it was a stunning backdrop
They went on a seven-week trip around Europe to celebrate before returning to a nomination for ‘wedding of the month’ from Easy Weddings.
Their celebration – which had won for April – was featured on the website as a blog, before they came up against the 12 other winners in the year for ‘wedding of the year for 2019’.
The public voted their three favourite when Easy Weddings chose their overall favourite on Valentine’s Day 2020, and it turned out to be the Montgomery-Morgans that took the crown.
They won six nights in an Ocean Villa at Heritance Aarah with their own private butler, all meals and beverages included – as well as $2,500 in spending money.
‘It was such a shock – and honour – to win. We’re the first gay people to ever win a big wedding competition. We’re planning on going in April to celebrate our first year anniversary,’ Daniel said
‘It was such a shock – and honour – to win. We’re the first gay people to ever win a big wedding competition. We’re planning on going in April to celebrate our first year anniversary,’ Daniel said.
They hoped by sharing their wedding – and the story behind them as a couple – it would promote another side to the gay community.
‘Michael and I are very non-typical gay people. People see gay people at marches and rallying but you’d never see us there, we live a very normal life,’ Daniel said.
‘We live in the suburbs with three French Bulldogs. Sharing our story comes with some risk but it wasn’t just Michael and I who won this award in the end, it’s our entire community. We as a whole are progressing and challenging people’s perceptions.
‘And we are so honoured to be able to do that.’