KARL’S MEXICAN WEDDING
With celebrity guests, an exclusive destination and a huge price tag, it’s no wonder Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough’s wedding has become the most talked about in Australian television.
While their Mexican ceremony is still three months away – the big day is reported to be on December 8 in San Jose del Cabo – it seems the couple are already celebrating wedded bliss after tying the knot in secret.
‘Jas has her heart set on this gorgeous little white chapel in Mexico, but they found out that if you want to get married at a venue with religious significance it’s not recognised anywhere else,’ says a friend. ‘So that’s why they held a small private party at Palm Beach in March to make it official.’ The Aussie couple – who are planning a second lavish event at the glamorous five-star One&only Palmilla resort – are said to have fallen in love with the idea of marrying in Mexico after visiting the country to celebrate Jasmine’s brother’s birthday in April last year. And Karl and Jasmine certainly aren’t scrimping on the budget for their big day. The pair are said to have splashed out $30,000 on two villas for the three-day celebration, which will include a fireworks show to entertain their guests, who are rumoured to include Jasmine’s Mara & Mine business partner Tamie Ingham, James Packer and his girlfriend Kylie Lim, Richard Wilkins and girlfriend Virginia Burmeister, and Karl’s manager Sharon Finnigan. But even with the legalities in place on home soil, the happy couple still have a few more hurdles to overcome before they can enjoy their special day. Last week Karl, 44, was spotted picking up prescription medication after it was reported he had been struck down with pneumonia. The veteran star is said to have been diagnosed with the lung infection – which can be deadly – following a chest X-ray. Last week he was seen shivering in freezing cold Canberra while covering Australia’s recent political drama. Just weeks before, Karl had embarked on a gruelling tour of the country to cover the current drought crisis.
Karl’s medical issues look set to throw the couple’s wedding plans into disarray. With laws in Cabo demanding all prospective couples undergo full blood tests to rule out any medical concerns prior to saying ‘I do’, the pair are preparing to make an emergency hospital dash after they touch
‘THE COUPLE HELD A SMALL PRIVATE PARTY AT PALM BEACH IN MARCH TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL’
down in Central America. ‘Those documents have to prove a clean bill of health and be presented to the wedding officiator,’ says the friend. ‘It has to be current and written in Spanish.’
While getting hitched has clearly been a priority for the smitten pair, there was another reason they have had to delay the final ceremony for so long. ‘The authorities require you to be divorced for a full year and it’s been no secret that Karl and Cass had bad blood with their divorce turning bitter and dragging out, so they really had to play nice to get that through,’ says the friend.