Some of Aussie soccer’s brightest stars were divided for the happiest of reasons as two Matildas held their weddings on opposite sides of the world just days apart recently.
First Ellie Carpenter married her Lyon teammate Daniëlle van de Donk in a breathtaking ceremony in southern France on June 7, then Katrina Gorry tied the knot with Clara Markstedt at Hamilton Island off the Queensland coast on Sunday.
Other Matildas weddings have seen a huge turnout of teammates, like Emily van Egmond’s nuptials with Kat Thompson last December, which saw Sam Kerr, her fiancee Kristie Mewis, Steph Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Hayley Raso and Clare Polkinghorne.
Europe-based stars Steph Catley (Arsenal), Hayley Raso (Tottenham), van Egmond (Birmingham City) and Teagan Micah (Liverpool) lapped up the amazing surrounds in France for Carpenter’s three-day celebration.
They were joined by their fellow Matildas stars Emily Gielnik and Lydia Williams, who play for Melbourne Victory, and Chloe Logarzo of Western United.
Matildas stars Hayley Raso (left) and Steph Catley had a once-in-a-lifetime experience at teammate Ellie Carpenter’s wedding in the south of France
Carpenter (second from left) tied the knot with her Lyon teammate Daniëlle van de Donk (second from right)
Held at the Château Hermitage de Combas in southern France’s Servian region, Carpenter’s nuptials were the epitome of luxury and glamour.
‘The setting is so lush and green, it’s beautiful,’ Carpenter told Vogue.
‘It’s got this unique, elegant vibe but still feels grounded in love and who we are as a couple. Intimate, natural, and full of heart.’
Van de donk’s gown was made by leading bridal brand Pronovias, while Carpenter’s gown – which featured a veil – was created by Collingwood-based custom dress maker Mia Ateliers, with the soccer star describing it as ‘the dress of my dreams’.
And no expense was spared when it came to even the smaller details of the nuptials, with the couple hiring Du Jour Events to plan the ceremony.
The reception featured custom plates, Hueseeka candles, handmade stationery and flowers by Adelaide-based ‘botanical artist’ Evebud, with Affinity Diamonds also involved.
Guests were treated plenty more than the centrepiece wedding ceremony in the cheâteau’s gardens, with the event also taking in a dinner banquet, drinking Moët & Chandon during a celebration on the morning of the nuptials, enjoying a cocktail hour and a recovery party that utilised the property’s pool and tennis courts.
Photos on the Matildas stars’ socials show them in different outfits as they took in the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Pictured left to right: Raso, Kat Thompson, Thompson’s wife and Matildas star Emily van Egmond, and Catley
Left to right: Matildas stars Catley, Teagan Micah and Raso at the amazing Château Hermitage de Combas
Katrina Gorry (centre) married Clara Markstedt (third from left) in the Whitsunday Islands on Sunday with Aussie soccer stars including Charli Grant (second from left), Ayesha Norrie (third from right) and Michelle Heyman (second from right) helping her celebrate
Heyman (left) loved the beach-themed ceremony, telling her Instagram followers, ‘I barely know where to start regarding this weekend’
Matildas star Charli Grant (right) dazzled in a pink dress alongside Megan Ewans (left) who donned a beautiful teal gown
Gorry and Markstedt went for a beach-themed wedding in the Whitsundays, with around 70 people in attendance including Aussie footballers Charli Grant, Michelle Heyman, Ayesha Norrie and Natalie Tathem.
Former teammates Gorry and Markstedt tied the knot in the All Saints Chapel with more than a little help from their daughter Harper.
‘When Clara and I were up here in 2022, we joked we’d get married here,’ Gorry told New Idea.
‘But now it’s all come to life… It’s incredibly special. Hamilton is a special place for me and the family. It’s a part of Australia that I like to go to when I want to get away. It’s just absolutely beautiful, and it’s in our backyard.’
The pair danced to Swedish singer Victor Leksell’s ‘Svag’ during the evening celebrations, a song that the pair would sing together in the car when they first met.
Their daughter Harper also had some important duties on the day as the couple’s flower girl.
The pair went dress shopping together, but hilariously nearly picked the same dress!
‘I hate dress shopping, you don’t find me in dresses very often,’ Gorry said.
‘But our dresses are very much ‘us’ … as soon as I walked into the store, I picked mine out straight away, which was something I never thought would happen.’
