Betrothed bare souls – and more

Above: Berwick’s Shelley Davie and Josh Hughes, with nine-and-a-half-month-old son Lachlan, were married in the nude at Como Historic House and Garden in South Yarra last Friday morning. Picture: Marc McGowan.

By Marc McGowan
BARE butts and frivolous behaviour took centre stage as a Berwick couple exchanged vows at Como Historic House and Garden in South Yarra on Friday morning.
Shelley Davie and Josh Hughes, who have a nine-and-a-half-month-old son Lachlan, tied the knot in the nude in front of about 250 guests, with thousands more listening live on the airwaves.
The cheeky pair won radio station Fox FM’s nude wedding competition a week earlier and spent the next seven days preparing for one of the most memorable, yet strange, days of their lives.
They had their entire wedding paid for and have a free Fijian honeymoon to look forward to.
Mr and Mrs Hughes’ victory in the public vote followed the similar experience of another Berwick couple, Fiona and Travis McLean, who won Fox FM’s Ready, Steady, Wedding back in 2004.
But the spotlight was well and truly on the latest Berwick soul mates on Friday, who walked down the aisle with little more than flesh-coloured underwear as protection.
It may not have been how Mrs Hughes pictured her wedding day, but she was glowing after the ceremony.
“Except for the whole nudity part, I couldn’t have asked for anything more,” she said.
“I love Josh so much and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.”
Mr Hughes was just as chuffed with his bride and relieved to finally be able to put clothes on once the ceremony was over.
“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment; I’m pretty happy to have my clothes on now!” he said and laughed.
Hugh Davie and Skip Hughes, the fathers of the bride and groom respectively, had no problems with how their loved ones were wed, and believe the duo could not be more perfect for one another.
But the final word went to Matt Tilley, who, together with Jo Stanley, co-hosts Fox FM’s top-rating breakfast program The Matt and Jo Show.
“Berwick’s obviously a very horny town, where people are looking to get married,” he joked.
“It is that kind of place, isn’t it? It’s a real growth corridor. If you live in Berwick, keep listening to the Fox – you could get a wedding.”