Nuptials in new thongs

Self professed bogans William and Sara Wilson were married on Australia Day 2008 under a towering gum tree, with gumnut bouquets, while wedding cars festooned with Australian flags waited to whisk them away.

Even their cake and the place settings on the tables at the reception had an Australian theme.

This is one local couple whose Australian spirit knows no bounds…almost.

Sara drew the line at William wearing shorts and thongs to the wedding ceremony.

“We’re very patriotic, we love Australia and we’re the typical bogans,” Sara said.

“Will wears his thongs every chance he gets – thongs and shorts – he even wanted to wear them to the wedding.”

“We’re both getting Southern Cross tattoos and we both love Australia.

“We just thought (an Australia Day themed wedding) would be a good idea – something different.”

The pair were married in Dapto’s Integral Energy Park.

The big event was followed by a reception at Corrimal RSL.

Twenty-two-year-old Sara met her 23-year-old husband in 2005 and they got engaged on Christmas Day 2006.

Sara is a cake decorator by trade and William a roof plumber.

Sara said their love for Australia was passed on to them through their parents, Trevor and Rosemary Hardie of Balgownie and Carol Wilson of Berkeley.

“We look at other countries on the news and stuff and are just so proud and so happy to live somewhere so beautiful,” Sara said.

If compromise is the key to a successful marriage then the Wilsons are off to a good start.

William refused to be confined to wedding shoes for the reception, but agreed not to wear his old thongs.

“We bought a brand new pair (of thongs) for the reception…he wouldn’t wear his shoes,” Sara said.

William and Sara decided to spend their honeymoon away from their beloved homeland, flying to Thailand before beginning their married life together in Unanderra.