Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding’s star-studded New York wedding reception brought together cocktails, dancing and a host of celebrity guests. But it was an unexpected reunion between two longtime friends that drew particular interest from eagle-eyed fans.
Zoë Foster Blake and former Elle Australia editor-in-chief Justine Cullen appeared to put recent speculation about their friendship to rest after guests shared Instagram photos showing the pair cuddling at the couple’s wedding celebrations last Tuesday.
The affectionate moment came after Zoë was notably missing from Justine’s 50th birthday getaway to New Zealand earlier this year.
The pair were once famously close, but Zoë’s absence from the New Zealand trip prompted media insiders to wonder whether the two magazine friends had begun moving in separate directions.
Her non-attendance was especially surprising given the strength of their friendship, which has lasted for more than a decade.
Cullen and Zoë became close while Justine was leading Elle Australia, where the Go-To founder regularly contributed and appeared as a cover star.
Andy Lee and Rebecca Harding’s star-studded New York wedding reception was filled with cocktails, dancing and celebrity guests. However, it was the unexpected reunion between longtime friends Zoë Foster Blake (left) and former Elle Australia editor-in-chief Justine Cullen (right) that caught the attention of eagle-eyed fans
The affectionate display attracted attention because the pair had been rumoured to have drifted apart in recent months, following Zoë’s notable absence from Justine’s 50th birthday getaway to New Zealand
They also joined forces to launch Elle Australia’s first podcast and were familiar faces on the fashion and media circuit, with their connection continuing well beyond their professional relationship.
In 2015, Zoë travelled to Los Angeles with Cullen and McCahon for a girls’ getaway, documenting parts of the trip on Instagram.
Zoë shared a photo of the trio posing with champagne in their hotel room, joking: ‘I was forbidden from tagging this #momsgonewild. So I definitely won’t hashtag it #momsgonewild.’
She was also a prominent guest at Cullen’s 40th birthday party in 2016, joining the then-Elle editor and her husband, Hamish Blake, at the lavish 1920s-themed costume celebration.
There could, however, be a much more straightforward explanation for Zoë’s absence from the New Zealand trip.
Cullen attended Zoë’s ‘anything but clothes’-themed birthday party last December, indicating that their friendship may have remained strong and that the Go-To founder simply could not make the trip across the Tasman.
Whatever the reason for her absence, the pair looked to be on excellent terms as they joined a glittering guest list celebrating Andy and Rebecca’s wedding in New York.
The celebrations carried on late into the evening, with photos providing a glimpse inside the lavish reception at a stylish New York venue overlooking the city.
Zoë was once extremely close to Cullen, but her absence from the New Zealand getaway fuelled speculation among media insiders that the magazine friends may have been heading in different directions. The pair are pictured partying with Hugh Jackman at Andy and Rebecca’s reception
Hamish Blake (left) beamed at the reception as he posed with fellow guests on the rooftop
Guests enjoyed cocktails and danced in celebration of the newlyweds before sitting down to a decadent feast. (L-R: Entrepreneur Michelle Battersby, Lauren Phillips, Paul O’Brien, Lucy Nettlefold)
Rebecca’s stylist and friend Elliot Garnaut posed alongside publicist Lucy Nettlefold
The bride and groom’s table settings featured simple white floral displays with greenery
The couple also laid out custom-printed napkins with the message: ‘But if you’ve got a husband, I was just using you to get to him. I bet he is handsome’
The hilarious detail was a tribute to the hand-written napkin note Andy wrote to Rebecca when they met at a cafe where she was working 12 years ago
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Guests sipped cocktails and danced as they celebrated the newlyweds, before sitting down for a decadent feast.
The bride and groom’s table settings featured simple white floral displays with greenery, as well as custom-printed napkins with the message: ‘But if you’ve got a husband, I was just using you to get to him. I bet he is handsome.’
The hilarious detail was a tribute to the hand-written napkin note Andy wrote to Rebecca when they met at a cafe where she was working 12 years ago.
Later, guests headed to the rooftop to enjoy the sunset over the New York skyline.
Among those on the guest list was Hollywood star Hugh Jackman, Andy’s best friend Hamish Blake, Nova radio host Lauren Phillips and her aviation tycoon fiancé Paul O’Brien, publicist Lucy Nettlefold, fashion stylist Elliot Garnaut and entrepreneur Michelle Battersby.
