Antony and Megan

A love story

Megan and Antony’s love story began 13 years ago through mutual friends and their share houses in Sydney’s inner west. At first, primary school teacher Megan thought Ant was a bit of a dork, as he kept his precious collectibles in a box and not on display. Then a friend suggested he was potential boyfriend material, after all, he baked biscuits! After a few false starts, they dated and as they say in the movies, the rest is history!

Ant and Megan welcomed Isaac into their lives seven years ago, and then a beautiful daughter, Minnie, now four.

Their dream of buying a home in Sydney was cut short when Ant was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in October 2015. It was devastating. Ant had surgery and 12 rounds chemotherapy. Just three months later they were dealt another blow – he had metastatic bowel cancer in the liver.

By June 2017, despite the wonderful medical team at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, the cancer had spread to Ant’s lungs, liver and stomach; it was terminal. Their hopes and dreams were shattered.

No time for Bridezillas!

In early November, Megan spotted an online article in the New Idea about a couple giving away their wedding in Sydney to My Wedding Wish – the only catch being it was for a set date and time (11th of the 11th Remembrance Day) – less than a week away! The couple had paid $15,000 to Oatlands House who generously said they would donate the remaining balance of $8,000 if the charity could find a couple battling terminal illness.

Megan applied to My Wedding Wish and the team swung into action, with Karen Dearing as the Wish Leader pulling together an impressive list of 15 wedding suppliers – all willing to gift their services to make Ant and Megan’s wedding dreams come true.

By Wednesday, Ant and Megan met with their Celebrant, Joy from Joyful Occasions, discussed ceremony ideas, signed the Notice of Intended Marriage Form and headed to NSW Births Deaths and Marriages to get a Shortening of Time (legally couples must give one month’s notice of their intention to marry, unless a Shortening of Time is granted).

Then the call went out to Megan’s online Facebook communities for wedding dresses. Overwhelmed with responses, her wedding guests joked that Megan was the only bride with more wedding dresses in her wardrobe than work clothes! And to keep the generosity going, some of the wedding dresses were then donated to Angel Gowns, another wonderful charity that remodels them into gowns for angel babies in Australian hospitals.

Local friends rallied to help Megan and Ant finalise other details – invitations, RSVPs, visiting the venue, organising table settings, buying wedding rings, ceremony music – all pulled together in less than five days for what daughter Minnie excitedly called, “Marry Day”.

What is Love?

Issac I can’t really explain – love is when people hug you – that’s when you feel loved.

Mummy and Daddy are getting married because they love each other

and they will love each other forever.

Minnie Love means getting married. I love Uncle Levi’s beard.

I know Mummy loves Daddy because they dance.

Love is today – marry day!

The Reception

The amazing team at Oatlands House, owned by Navarra Venues, were on hand to ensure that the 120 guests which included 25 children, enjoyed a night to remember.

With the photos captured by DC Images and video from Studio Sallit, the amazing mirror photo booth from Saavy Entertainment and the stunning cake from Tiers of Heaven Cakes, the Capper family and friends have everlasting memories of a magical Marry Day.

But it didn’t end there, Megan and Ant got to meet Ann, who gifted her wedding reception to them. She arrived with gifts for Isaac, Minnie, Megan and Ant, in what was a most moving, intimate moment in the night.

It was a day full of beautiful memories that Megan, Antony, Isaac and Minnie will cherish and treasure for always.

National Capper Family Vacation – the Broken Hill connection!

Megan was born and raised in the far west NSW city of Broken Hill, a 13-hour drive (1150km one way) from Sydney. She contacted family and close friends who immediately downed tools to organise a quick trip to Sydney. Luckily father Terry owned a 15-seater mini-bus, and some of the family set out at noon Friday, arriving in Sydney at 2am Saturday for a few hours sleep, before attending the wedding.

After a wonderful ceremony and celebration, the family had a few more hours sleep before heading out at 5am for the return journey.

Other family, including Megan’s Mum Robyn, flew in from Adelaide and another close friend travelled from Warrnambool in country Victoria.

Antony and Megan’s “Marry Day”

Megan and Ant were amazed that so many of their friends and family were able to be at their wedding ceremony at such short notice.

To celebrate the importance of family and friends in their lives, guests participated in a ring warming ritual, with each guest offering a silent wish, blessing or prayer for their marriage.

The rings were then presented to Megan and Ant by Megan’s two grandmothers from Broken Hill. Megan’s mother Robyn then bought forward Marry Day gifts for Ant and Megan to give to Isaac and Minnie, to officially recognise the Capper Family Marry Day.

An added ceremony surprise was the inclusion of What is Love stories from Megan’s kindergarten class, plus Isaac and Minnie. Celebrant Joy and Lisa, who first introduced Megan and Ant, shared their funny, beautiful and innocent responses with the 120 guests.

Update: Sadly, Antony passed on the 27 August 2018