Australian couple married on an island and went snorkelling straight away
A couple from the Sunshine Coast in Australia — Jackie Whitaker and Hayden Nuttall — married alone on Lady Elliot Island, the southernmost coral cay of the Great Barrier Reef, after more than ten years in a relationship. Immediately after exchanging their wedding vows, the newlyweds changed from their wedding attire into wetsuits and went snorkelling.
As ABC News Australia reports, the ceremony took place in June 2026. Hayden Nuttall made his vows barefoot and wearing shorts. The newlyweds travelled around the island in a beach buggy wearing Crocs, while Jackie had a knitted bouquet that will not wilt and will remind her of the day.
A special place for the couple
They first visited Lady Elliot in 2022 and, despite bad weather during that trip, returned to the island in 2024. According to Hayden Nuttall, the decision to marry there arose from the couple’s love for the place. He noted that something new can be seen during every dive.
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The island’s lagoon is home to diverse marine fauna, including sea turtles and various species of rays. Lady Elliot is also known as a place where manta rays can be found. Five couples got married on the island over the past year.
Demand for intimate weddings
Queensland Brides editor Nikki Ernst said that more and more couples are choosing to marry alone or hold micro-weddings with fewer than 30 guests. According to her, the trend began during the COVID-19 pandemic years and has continued, including because of the rising cost of living.
Ernst believes that couples are increasingly viewing small ceremonies as an independent positive choice rather than a compromise. For the Nuttalls, it was important that only the two of them were at the ceremony, although their families were initially upset at being unable to attend.
