Australian prime minister’s wedding LIVE: Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon marry

While we don’t have a full guest list of who attended the wedding (and we don’t expect to receive one), Sydney Morning Herald and Age photographer Alex Ellinghausen managed to capture some of the more high-profile invitees. Here’s who he saw this afternoon:

Foreign Minister Penny Wong arriving at The Lodge for the wedding. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Foreign Minister Penny Wong was captured stepping out of a car in front of The Lodge. We also managed to see the economic engine of the Albanese ministry, Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Jim Chalmers, alongside their partners.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, partner Dave Skinner (front) and Treasurer Jim Chalmers and his wife, journalist Laura Chalmers.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Sporting a stylish hat that may play into his reputation as “the Godfather” of the Labor Party, powerbroker and Trade Minister Don Farrell arrived alongside his wife, Nimfa Farrell.

Trade Minister Don Farrell with his wife, Nimfa Farrell.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Health Minister Mark Butler and his wife, journalist Daniela Ritorto, were on the guest list, as well as Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and his wife, Skye Laris.

Health Minister Mark Butler and his wife, journalist Daniela Ritorto.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Other ministers in attendance included NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister and Industry Minister Tim Ayres.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has congratulated Albanese and Haydon on their nuptials, releasing a brief statement that read:

Congratulations to Anthony and Jodie! I wish them every happiness as they continue building their lives together.

Personalised wedding favours have become a trend at weddings, with sunglasses, stubby holders and handheld fans among the items commonly emblazoned with a couple’s name for their guests’ enjoyment at their reception.

The couple share special Willie the Boatman beers made for the event.

As for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his new wife, Jodie Haydon? Their guests appear to have been treated to a can of Albo & Jodie beer made by Sydney brewery Willie the Boatman. The personalised cans were decorated with a picture of the couple and their wedding date.

It is not the first beer to bear the prime minister’s likeness from the brewery, located within Albanese’s Grayndler electorate. They’ve already made two “Albo” brews: the Albo Pale Ale and Albo Corn Ale.

News of the prime minister’s wedding has been coming in thick and fast. Here’s what we know about the event so far:

• The couple were married by a celebrant from the NSW Central Coast, where Haydon grew up. They also wrote their own vows.
• Haydon was walked down the aisle by her parents, Bill and Pauline, to the Ben Folds song, The Luckiest.
• The couple walked back down the aisle after the ceremony to the Stevie Wonder song, Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).
• Their first dance will be to The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra.
• Their witnesses were the PM’s cousin, Helen Golden, and Haydon’s brother, Patrick.

The couple will go on a short honeymoon in Australia from Monday until Friday.

And don’t worry, the taxpayer is off the hook for this one: the couple picked up the cheque for the ceremony.

Jodie Haydon’s embroidered full-sleeve wedding dress is by Sydney label Romance Was Born, founded by Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales in 2005.

Several of their pieces have been acquired by Australian museums and galleries, and they have dressed Cate Blanchett, Lily Allen, Miley Cyrus and Cyndi Lauper.

Anthony Albanese wore an MJ Bale suit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has released a brief statement following his wedding to Jodie Haydon at a small ceremony attended by family and close friends at The Lodge.

Albanese and Haydon at The Lodge for their wedding ceremony.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his son, Nathan, with beloved dog and ringbearer Toto.

“We are absolutely delighted to share our love and commitment to spending our future lives together, in front of our family and closest friends,” the couple said.

The couple wrote their own vows, with Haydon walking down the aisle to Ben Folds’ song, The Luckiest.

Albanese’s dog, Toto, was the ring bearer.

Albanese and Haydon met six years ago, with an oft-repeated story unfolding. Here’s an extract from Sydney Morning Herald chief-reporter Jordan Baker’s profile of Haydon:

Then-opposition leader Albanese, who had separated from his wife, former NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt, almost a year earlier, was speaking at a Melbourne union conference in late 2019 and asked South Sydney supporters to identify themselves. Haydon, who worked for a union super fund, shouted, “Up the Rabbitohs!”

Albanese introduced himself, but it was Haydon who made the next move by sending him a direct message on Twitter.

They met for a beer at Young Henry’s brewery in Newtown, and Albanese invited her to the Woodford Folk Festival soon after. They discovered they had much in common. He is passionate about music; she worked for years in the music section of Grace Bros. He was raised by a courageous single mother; her guiding light was her grandmother, who put herself through teachers college and raised nine children while juggling a career.

You can read the full profile here.