Kerry McCuskey and Stephen Turner
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Wedding - Mia Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam
THE MEETING:
Kerry and Stephen met at the Brian Boru Hotel in Bendigo
in September 1998. Kerry was there to celebrate a friend’s birthday
and Stephen was there checking out the local Irish music scene. They
recall making eye contact across the bar. Kerry remembers exactly what
Stephen wore and that he was tall and handsome.
THE PROPOSAL:
After 11 years together, Stephen decided it was time
to propose. He had an idea of how he wanted the ring to look and his
design was refined with the help of Judy at Gold Rush Jewellers, in
Bendigo.
Stephen suggested to Kerry that he could plan a mystery weekend
away to celebrate the end of a particularly demanding work period
for Kerry. The weekend started with dinner and a show in Melbourne,
before continuing the next day on the Mornington Peninsula. Stephen
recalls Kerry’s frustration at not knowing where they were going and
wrongly assuming that the clothes he asked her to pack indicated
that they would be playing golf.
Kerry said Stephen looked quite nervous in the Sorrento Hotel and
kept checking his watch. “Hmmmm, perhaps we have a ferry to
catch,” she thought.
Eventually, they drove to the car park above the Blairgowrie Yacht
Club. “You’re not taking me on a yacht,” Kerry protested.
“She is not taking this well,” Stephen thought, but despite Kerry’s
reservations, they boarded a private charter yacht with a skipper and
overnight berth.
Kerry took a turn at the helm and was told she needed to pull a cord.
The cord released a flag emblazoned with “Will you marry me?”
The production of the engagement ring was accompanied by a
proposal poem written by Stephen. The couple celebrated with
champagne and a gourmet food platter, with the evening spent
indulging in celebratory drinks and phoning family with the news.
THE WEDDING DAY:
Some three years later and after some gentle
nudging from their children, the couple decided to elope and take
Michael, Ben and partner Erica, Zachary, Jordannah and partner
Dave with them. The kids were sworn to secrecy and were put on
social media bans until the announcement could be made to family
and friends.
They walked from their beautiful beachside villa onto the beach at
Mia Resort in Nha Trang, Vietnam, where their children were waiting,
along with Australian marriage celebrant Gail Hughes, from www.
marrymeplease.com.au
It was a twilight wedding and the weather was perfect. The reception
was a gourmet seafood barbecue held on the beautiful secluded
beach at Mia Resort and the pair danced the night away.
THE DRESS:
The dress, bought at Myer Melbourne, was a ME too
design. It was champagne in colour and reminded Kerry of Grace
Kelly. A light feather wrap was worn on the shoulders and her
sandals were pearl-encrusted. Stephen wore white pants, a white
shirt and was barefoot.
THE HONEYMOON:
The couple continued their honeymoon touring
Vietnam, while their children all headed off on their own adventures in
Vietnam.
Grab the printed edition of the Bendigo Advertiser next Thursday to see the next couple featured in our Brides and Grooms section in LIFE.