KEVIN PISANI and MELANIE MILETOVIC
Dress: Yulia McAuley design with fitted chantilly lace bodice and layered silk organza skirt
Honeymoon: Three weeks in Mexico, LA, Las Vegas and New York
When and where married: St Nikola Tavelic Croatian Catholic Church and reception at Curzon Hall on April 11
Melanie Miletovic met husband Kevin Pisani on the very first day of high school, lucky enough to grow up with her best friend by her side.
They grew up in the same area of western Sydney and went to the same school, meeting on the very first day of Year 7.
“That’s where we found each other and we have now been together for 10 years,” Melanie, 27, says.
“We were good friends from the beginning but it wasn’t until Year 12 that we officially became boyfriend and girlfriend, which was due to a lot more social activities and we grew closer, kicking off after a friend’s party.
“People we went to school with are still in shock that we are still together — I think it’s quite surreal these days to hear stories like ours.”
In 2008 the Cecil Hills couple spent three months travelling Europe together, exploring Melanie’s native Croatia, and Kevin’s native Malta.
“We both studied at university and have been there to support one another — it was great to be a part of that,” the advertising account manager says.
“A lot of couples say ‘I wish we had met 10 years ago’, but we don’t have to, because we did.
“We haven’t missed much of each other’s lives, that’s for sure.”
Kevin, who works in logistics, proposed to his high school sweetheart in the beautiful Hunter Valley on his birthday weekend.
“It was very unexpected,” she says.
“He had booked the best room at one of the best resorts in the Hunter and after a long day of wine tours we had dinner at a very lovely intimate fine dining restaurant.
“He had arranged with the hotel staff to set a romantic scene while we were at dinner and when we returned he popped the question.”
They were married at St Nikola Tavelic Croatian Catholic Church followed by a traditional reception for 370 guests at Curzon Hall’s Lady Mary’s Pavilion room.
“Our wedding day was everything we imagined and more,” she says.
“I am a very big perfectionist but it’s such a surreal feeling — you let everything go and you just enjoy every moment.
“I am Croatian so it was very cultural. We had a live Croatian band with lots of Croatian dancing and drinks, and it is customary for guests to be greeted with rosemary stems to wish away any bad spirits for the couple.
“It was amazing — but the highlight was walking down the aisle with my Dad — I have never seen him so emotional.
“We are both the first children in our families to get married so it was very special for everyone — it was such a lovey day.”
