Love Ever After

GABRIELLA MERCURI AND JOHN VARAPODIO

By Kelly Lucas-Carmody

May 29, 2026

STORY: KELLY LUCAS-CARMODY // PHOTOGRAPHY: TATIANA COSTANTINO

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AUGUST 6, 2025 // CAPO D’ORLANDO, SICILY

When Gabriella Mercuri and John Varapodio got engaged in January 2025, they already had a trip to Europe planned — so they turned their holiday into a destination wedding, choosing Italy as the perfect place to celebrate.

“Our heritage has always held a special place in our hearts and there was no setting more meaningful for us to celebrate our love,” Gabriella said.

“The landscape, the people and of course the food completely captured us.”

The couple were joined by 55 guests who travelled from Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Canada, creating what Gabriella described as an intimate international celebration.

“In true destination-wedding fashion, even the dress had its own journey,” she said.

“It was carefully carried by hand from Melbourne to Rome and then onward to Palermo. With limited space on board, the gown was ultimately entrusted to the pilot and travelled safely in the cockpit.”

Gabriella planned her own wedding in just six months, with WhatsApp bridging communication across multiple countries.

Arriving in Sicily three weeks prior to the wedding, the final planning was confirmed with a good old-fashioned handshake and a trust-in-the-process approach.

The wedding began late in the afternoon, with a 6pm ceremony set within villa grounds, accompanied by piano and vocals.

“We kept the ceremony simple and personal, writing our own vows and incorporating a symbolic olive oil blending ritual,” Gabriella said.

“Olive oil felt especially meaningful as olive trees are deeply rooted in Sicilian culture, known for their resilience and longevity, reflecting the kind of love we’ve built together over time.”

Following the ceremony, guests moved to an Italian aperitivo beneath a 200-year-old magnolia tree, known for its enormous scale and striking aerial roots.

The setting offered panoramic views of the town and ocean, perfectly framed by a breathtaking sunset.

“It was the most beautiful sunset we had seen in the 10 days leading up,” Gabriella said.

“The weather felt nothing short of miraculous.”

The week prior had brought some of Sicily’s most severe conditions in decades, with heavy rain and wild seas.

With no wet weather plan and a fully outdoor wedding, the couple placed their trust in fate.

“On the day, we were gifted with perfect conditions,” she said.

“Twenty-eight degrees, clear skies and not a breath of wind.”

Guests enjoyed rustic Sicilian cuisine, live cooking stations, freshly fried seafood and local street food, followed by a sit-down dinner under fairy lights.

Sicilian sweets, cocktails, prosecco and beer flowed freely throughout the evening.

There was plenty of dancing, along with a traditional millefoglie cake, assembled live in front of guests by a pastry chef — who even invited the bride and groom to help with the piping.

The couple described the day as nothing short of magical.

“It was an experience not just for us, but for everyone who travelled to be part of it,” Gabriella said.

“A celebration of our continued commitment to one another, and of a love that has already stood the test of time.

“We were grateful for the guests who attended to be there with us.”

On returning to Melbourne, the couple celebrated with loved ones who couldn’t attend, formally signing the papers and recreating elements of the day, later enjoying an afternoon high tea at the Windsor.