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Howzat! Damien gets married

Source: Woman's Day - June 12, 2006 (Thanks to peppermint for typing this up)

Aussie Cricket Star Damien Martyn Is Bowled Over By His Beautiful Bride Annika At Their Dream Wedding.

Damien Martyn has stayed cool and calm while facing some of the world's fastest bowlers. But even with his national captain Ricky Ponting by his side as best man, nothing could steel Damien's nerves as he waited for his beautiful bride to walk down the aisle.

However, the butterflies quickly flew away as Annika McNamara arrived for the couple's idyllic wedding south of Perth - escorted by her proud dad Phil, mum Terri Easey, her nieces Elle, Ashleigh, Brooklyn and Chloe, nephew Jackson, and bridesmaid and best friend Leissa Cole.

As she and Damien joined hands by a huge window over Bunker Bay, they clearly only had eyes for each other.

"For me, the best part was seeing her walk down the aisle, her dad passing her over to me and the whole ceremony," says Damien, 34, who has played 65 Tests and 200 one-day internationals for Australia and is regarded as one of the world's most stylish batters.

"I don't really cry... but I was getting emotional."

Perfect Partnership

It's just a few months since he proposed to the maiden who had bowled him over a year earlier, but everything went like a dream.

One of the reasons for the short engagement was the challenge in finding time when Damien's team-mates would be able to attend.

At 34, I'm not big on the idea of waiting a year or two years," he says. "I wanted to get married, so it had to be this winter while the team is on holidays."

Annika, 22, agrees, adding that she has been overwhelmed by the warmth she has found within the Australian cricket team.

"It's his second family," she says.

Annika admits organising her wedding was a huge job.

With the little time up their sleeves, the couple managed to secure the whole of the Quay West Resort at Bunker Bay, in the Margaret River Wine region, for their friends and family for the weekend.

High on the bride's to-do list was finding the perfect gown, which proved easier than she imagined.

"It was incredible," says Annika of the stunning chiffon strapless gown and train adorned with tiny crystals that she wore on the biggest day of her life.

"At the very first shop Mum and I went to, I tried on three dresses and the third was just perfect. It was so simple and elegant."

Fantasy Setting

Annika called on Margaret River florist and wedding planner Peta Lemmes to help turn her wedding dream into reality.

The reception marquee was a spectacular fantasy of flowers, with pink rose petals scattered across tables topped with tall candelabra that dripped with pink oriental lilies, orchids, freesias and jasmine.

The cake, prepared by renowned Perth pastry chef Rochelle Adonis, featured four white tiers divided by rosebuds.

But the most important thing to the pair was to create an intimate occasion for their special friends and family.

"Everyone we invited was someone who is important and special to us," Annika says.

The MC was former West Perth football legend Les Fong, while another special guest was media personality Alan Jones, who flew by helicopter to be there.

Before the next cricket season starts, the couple will head off on their honeymoon to the Banyan Tree Resort on Bintan Island, south-east of Singapore. And then? It's on to wherever their hearts take them.

- CYNTHIA EATON

(Scans of the article and accompanying photographs can be found in the DMN Forum.)