Fairytale ending: Jasmine and Brian’s stylish Sydney wedding at Curzon Hall

When Brian Magellan first laid eyes on the shy Jasmine McKenzie at a Sydney nightclub, his first words were, “I’ve got to go and talk to that girl!”

Their attraction was instant and although the timing wasn’t great – they’d both recently come out of long relationships – they couldn’t help but see where their hearts would take them.

As it turns out – it was all the way to the altar – exchanging vows in a stylish Sydney wedding at the romantic Miramare Gardens and magnificent Curzon Hall. It was a fairytale ending particularly for the bride whose start to life was far from ideal.

Within hours of her birth, Fijian-born Jasmine was left at the hospital by her scared birth mother who was never to be tracked down again. For the first three months the hospital was her home and she was cared for lovingly by the nurses who called her Suzy (after her birth mother Sunita).

Meanwhile, New Zealanders Kay and Alastair McKenzie, had recently adopted a baby girl out of a Fijian orphanage after learning they would never have children of their own. They were looking to expand their little family and, when they heard about the baby girl who’d been left at the hospital, they flew across to meet her.

With the help of the orphanage’s head Sister, Sister Clare (after whom Jasmine Clare was later named), a long and tiring search for Sunita ensued. They needed her permission to adopt and, having no luck finding her, Jasmine became a ward of the state. Kay and Alastair fostered her from Christchurch for a year and by then loved her as their own. Throughout that agonising year, they nervously awaited news that the adoption was a success, with the very real chance that at any point she’d have to be flown back.

But eventually it did go through (despite the 1987 coup that threatened to thwart their dream) and Jasmine says, “I officially had a mum and a dad – and what great ones I got!”

A third daughter for the McKenzies was adopted into the family soon after and the three Fijian girls had a wonderful New Zealand upbringing. Jasmine was 22 when she moved to Sydney and three years later she would stand with her two sisters and best friend Jenna to marry the love of her life.

Photos courtesy of Vanity Image Photo & Cinema.

This stunning bride wore a strapless mermaid tulle gown by Bridal Avenue, sparkling silver shoes by Panache Bridal Shoes and dazzling accessories from Brides of Sydney. Her bridesmaids wore baby pink, floor-length gowns by Chic Collections paired with elegant up-dos by Pure LVX.

Accompanied by her proud and clearly emotional adoptive dad Alistair, Jasmine walked down the aisle to the moving instrumental theme song from Forrest Gump. She carried an elegant, simple posy of white roses and her junior attendants looked adorable in outfits by Bardot Kids and David Jones.

Brian went for a sophisticated black tie look, wearing a shawl lapel tux with black bow tie and ivory waistcoat from Val Parks. His groomsmen were dressed in black lounge suits with ivory ties by All the Rage Formal Wear.

Wedding celebrant, Behroze Bilimoria, helped the couple to create a beautiful ceremony that was uniquely their own, which received lots of lovely compliments from guests.

The incredibly cool Cadillac convertibles were supplied by Wild Weddings.

“Outstanding” is how the bride describes Sydney’s Press Club Band who entertained guests at the Curzon Hall reception.

The couple took dance lessons from Fandango Dance Company in the lead up to their wedding, performing a slow cha-cha to the Moulin Rouge soundtrack for their first dance in front of 120 guests.

“In my head it all seems like a dream,” says Jasmine. “From a baby with no parents to being blessed and adopted by the most special and beautiful parents in the world… and my fairytale didn’t end there. I met the love of my life and got to marry him in what I can only describe as the ultimate fairytale wedding.”