Kiri Marsters Photography, @kirimarstersphoto.
East Of Eden star Brad McMurray might be used to performing for the camera, but nothing could prepare him for the emotion of his wedding day. As he spoke his heartfelt vows to his radiant bride Brittany, he found himself struggling to hold back the tears.
“I thought I’d be able to get through my vows fine because I speak for a living,” laughs the Aussie actor, 55, who has appeared in Home And Away, Neighbours and NCIS: Sydney. “But five lines in, I started tearing up and had to pause!”
The Gold Coast couple, who met at a New Year’s Eve party in 2019, tied the knot at Waiheke Island’s stunning Mudbrick Vineyard surrounded by loved ones, including their blended brood of four kids.
For Brittany, 35, the highlight was Brad’s vows – “Definitely no ChatGPT!” she laughs – while he’ll never forget the moment she appeared at the end of the aisle.
He recalls, “Seeing her with the glittering water behind her was like a picture. My heart was bouncing.”
Brittany looked every bit the timeless bride in a strapless ballgown with a long train from Australian designer Pearl Bridal. She walked down the aisle to Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling In Love, a song the couple came to adore after Brittany worked in production on the movie Elvis.
There were plenty of happy tears throughout the day, particularly from Brittany’s daughters Pepper, 14, and Delilah, 18, who were her bridesmaids. Brad’s kids Jenaya, 24, and Declan, 27, were also part of the special day, with Declan taking on best-man duties. “It was just perfect – a day that worked for us,” smiles Brittany.
Mudbrick was an easy choice for the couple, who first visited the venue after Brad’s East Of Eden co-star Florence Pugh – he played her character Cathy’s right-hand man Joe – recommended the vineyard, raving about its wine, cheese and spectacular views.
“She was right that you can’t help but fall in love with the place, and we wanted to show our closest friends and family what we love about New Zealand,” explains Brad.
The intimate gathering included flowers by Wildflower Waiheke, a ceremony led by celebrant Tony Sears and live acoustic music from singer-songwriter Rachel Hamilton. After an impromptu round of speeches from most of the guests and a night of dancing to Declan’s playlist, the celebrations finally came to a close at midnight.
The McMurrays’ romance began seven years ago. After meeting at a mutual friend’s party, Brad took almost 10 months to ask Brittany on a date. When they finally met for drinks and dinner before a film at the Brisbane International Film Festival, they had so much fun, they never made it into the cinema.
“I knew straight away,” says Brittany. “Our third date was just eight days later and we’ve been together ever since. He’s the funniest guy I’ve ever met. I laugh all day.”
Brad was equally smitten. “At one point on our first date, we held each other’s hands and it felt so natural.”
The lovebirds now run acting school The Actors Club together and try not to spend more than 10 days apart, even when Brad is filming. We’ll next see him in a lead role in the Christmas movie The Most Wonderful Secret, followed by the Jessica Alba action-thriller The Mark and Hugo Weaving miniseries The Great White.
After a final lunch in Auckland with their kids, the newlyweds headed to Rarotonga for five nights of snorkelling, cocktails on the beach and uninterrupted time together as newlyweds.
“Both of our vows had references about not just being with each other in this life, but finding each other in the next one too,” Brad says. “We both feel like we’ve known each other before now. It’s quite spiritual.”
