Felipe FVM Photography, fvmphotography.com, @fvmphotography.
Under a canopy of ancient olive trees, celebrated rugby league star Jai Arrow married his great love, Canadian-born Berina Colakovic, and in her own words, “it was one of those rare moments when you wish you could stop time”.
From the very beginning of their love story, precious family memories have always been at the epicentre of their lives.
Both now 31, Jai and Berina’s romance began in Sydney five years ago. Their first date was in a local park with their dogs, drinking coffee, with Berina admitting she struggled to understand Jai’s tricky Aussie slang.
Their engagement
A self-confessed hopeless romantic, Jai proposed while the pair visited Borgo del Carato, a restored 19th-century Italian farmhouse in Sicily’s Syracuse countryside, complete with its own Baroque chapel.
That was 2024 and at that moment, with Berina pregnant with their daughter, they made a pact that this magical location would one day be where they would say, “I do.”
Their perfect world took a tragic turn when, in May this year, Jai bravely announced he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), forcing his early retirement from his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Determined to make only wonderful memories, in July, they fast-tracked their initial wedding plans and tied the knot in a civil ceremony in Sydney.
The most memorable day
But true to their word, on Saturday 10 October, their closest family and friends, including Jai’s NRL teammates Cody Walker, Campbell Graham and Brandon Smith, gathered under thousands of fairy lights at Borgo del Carato for what will go down as one of the most memorable weddings across the sporting world. And the star of the nuptials was their precious baby girl, 18-month-old Ayla Rae, who captured the hearts of everyone as the couple exchanged their vows.
“Having our daughter there made it even more special,” says Berina, speaking exclusively to Woman’s Day. “To look around and see our families, who live on opposite sides of the world, all together in the place where Jai first asked me to marry him was something I’ll never forget.”
Like any bride, Berina worried the weather might ruin their day.
“There was thunder, lightning and torrential rain all day, but just in time for our ceremony, the clouds cleared and the sun was out. It couldn’t have been more perfect.”
To fit the wedding’s “timeless elegance” theme, Berina chose a stunning strapless gown designed by Sydney-based Corston Couture. Little Ayla, in her adorable flower-girl frock, almost upstaged her mum!
“More than anything, I wanted to feel like myself,” says Berina.
“That’s so important when choosing a wedding dress because it’s very easy to get caught up in what a bride is supposed to look like, rather than what genuinely makes you feel beautiful.”
Heartfelt vows
For Jai, who struggled to say his vows through tears of joy, it was a day he’ll never forget. Gone was the hard-hitting league player, with those close to him describing him as “a big soft bear” who now dedicates his life to raising awareness around MND with Berina by his side.
his beloved
Rabbitohs in May.
At a recent fundraiser, Jai paid tribute to her, saying, “You are my best mate, my biggest supporter and the person I want standing beside me through all of this.”
To Ayla, he continued, “One day, when you’re old enough to understand all of this, I hope you know how much your dad loves you.”
Jai tells us, “Our wedding wasn’t just about celebrating the beginning of a marriage. It was about celebrating the life we’d already built, the strength of our relationship and the promise to continue choosing one another through whatever comes next.”
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