In a charming act of subterfuge, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his new wife, Jodie Haydon, used elaborate codenames to keep their wedding florist in the dark. The high-profile couple, who tied the knot last Saturday, ordered their arrangements under the pseudonyms 'Marie and Matthew'.
The Florist's Surprise Realisation
Braddon-based florist Loulou Moxom had no idea she was designing for the Prime Minister's nuptials. She believed she was preparing flowers for a simple backyard wedding for a bride named Marie. Her brief was for cream and white flowers with wattle greenery, and 'nothing too big'.
Ms Moxom told The Canberra Times she only discovered the truth when a friend sent her a blunt text after seeing the wedding coverage: 'Is that your f***ing bouquet?' She had been working on several weddings that day and the realisation came as a complete shock.
The Mysterious 'David' and the Detailed Brief
The plot thickened with the involvement of a man calling himself 'David', who contacted the florist two months prior. He claimed to be helping his busy sister organise a 'casual little backyard wedding' as his gift to her.
'David' was a consistent communicator, which initially struck Ms Moxom as odd for such a supposedly low-key event. He ordered bridal and flower girl bouquets, buttonholes, and chair decorations. He even made a special request for a teardrop bouquet design, a style the florist initially resisted.
Her scepticism turned to affection when 'David' visited her shop with chocolates and was moved to tears upon seeing the final arrangements. Ms Haydon does not have a brother named David, though her actual brother, Patrick, served as a witness at the ceremony.
Reflecting on the secrecy, Ms Moxom said knowing the true client's identity would have triggered 'the anxiety, the imposter syndrome, the panic attacks'. She expressed delight that the couple had chosen a local small business, calling them a 'gorgeous couple' and saying her 'heart sang'.
A Personal and Intimate Australian Celebration
The wedding itself was a deeply personal affair, held under clear blue skies in the backyard of The Lodge in Canberra on Saturday afternoon. It fulfilled the couple's stated desire for a 'small, intimate… possibly outdoors' ceremony with family and loved ones.
The celebration featured distinctly Australian touches:
- The bride wore a gown by Sydney designer Romance Was Born.
- The Prime Minister's suit was from Australian label MJ Bale.
- Guests were served beer from special cans by Sydney's Willie the Boatman brewery.
The Lodge holds special significance for the pair, as it was on its balcony where Mr Albanese proposed on Valentine's Day 2024, following a romantic Italian dinner.
The newlyweds have since departed for a five-day interstate honeymoon, concluding a wedding story marked by secrecy, local support, and heartfelt personal touches.
