The past year has wreaked havoc on weddings for many couples, with many nuptials pushed back rescheduled or cancelled all together thanks to the pandemic.
But now that events are almost completely back to normal in Australia, brides and grooms are finally getting their chance to walk down the aisle.
In a surprise twist, this includes Home and Away and Neighbours star Christie Hayes, 34.
Christie looking so happy on her wedding day.
(Instagram)The actress shocked her fans on Wednesday night when she revealed she had secretly gotten hitched to her beau, Justin Coombes Pearce, 46.
Sharing a photo of herself looking stunning in a bridal gown with her suited-up new husband, Christie announced the happy news.
“The One Where We Eloped. 12.5.21,” she wrote.
“Happiest moment of my life marrying the love of my life. #OuiDeux #married”
Justin was just as jubilant about the relationship milestone and shared the same photo to his own Instagram account, writing: “The one where we eloped… Can’t stop grinning after finally marrying my soulmate ❤”
Christie posted this photo to celebrate her engagement.
(Instagram)Christie, who played Kirsty Sutherland from 2000 to 2009 before turning her sights to radio, became engaged to Justin on New Year’s Eve 2019.
The actress had been enjoying a romantic late-night picnic at a scenic location near their NSW South Coast home when her partner popped the question.
“It was simple in its execution. It was a beautiful spot, there was Champagne, cheese and chocolate-covered strawberries. It was the most thoughtful and beautiful surprise,” Christie previously told New Idea.
Justin, who is also a radio announcer alongside Christie at i98FM, admitted that keeping his proposal plans from Christie was “a challenge”.
Christie is best known for her role as Kirsty on Home and Away.
(Channel Seven)“Christie, to put it bluntly, is a snoop and would literally go looking for clues and grill me for information,” Justin laughed.
For the big moment, Justin tucked the ring inside an old antique book titled Reach for the Sky – a favourite saying of the couple.
“I wrote on the front page: ‘Ma belle âme soeur Christie, Veux-tu m’épouser,’ which translates from French: ‘My beautiful soulmate Christie, Will you marry me?’.” he revealed.
Christie has been married twice previously and shares two children, Hendrix, six, and Harley, five, with her second husband.
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This story was originally published on our sister site, New Idea.
