Married by Gene Simmons!
THIS PERTH COUPLE WERE STOKED WHEN THE ROCK ICON TOOK A VIP ROLE IN THEIR BIG DAY
The staircase was narrow and steep, but Portia Thanjekwayo took her time and descended slowly, her veil billowing in the gentle breeze.
Waiting excitedly below, hubby-to-be Brendan Clark wiped a tear as his stunning girl strolled towards him, grinning.
A small but dedicated guest list had flown in to watch the Perth couple say ‘I do’, but on the day their attention was split between the bride and the unusual-looking marriage celebrant in the dark cap and sunglasses.
‘We’re an unconventional couple, so we decided to ask Gene Simmons if he’d marry us!’ laughs Brendan, 33, who knew the long-tongued rock star from KISS was also a marriage celebrant.
‘We met Gene and his wife Shannon five years ago in Zambia and we just clicked. I was there doing work with my charity, Health Hope Zambia, and he was there filming his reality show Family Jewels.
‘It was Shannon who suggested Gene marry us during The KISS Kruise through the Caribbean. I thought it was a great idea, but Portia was a bit nervous because she’s never cruised.’
On stage, the fire-breathing, demonic-looking frontman has shocked with his bloodspitting antics, but to Portia and Brendan, he’s just Gene – a friend with a beautiful soul.
‘It’s a special moment being the one to officiate at Brendan and Portia’s wedding. I’m honoured,’ says the 68-yearold, revealing his softer side.
‘After all these years being the main person behind one of
the world’s biggest rock groups, I’ve only realised since marrying Shannon what’s really important, and that’s the woman you love, because they’re always there for you. It takes a real man to realise this.’
The nautical nuptials took place midway between Cuba and Mexico, in the courtyard of Gene’s penthouse suite.
Brendan, an entrepreneur, and Portia, a commercial recording artist, decided not to bring their two-year-old son Paul or either of Portia’s daughters Malika, nine, and Tracey, eight, ‘because being on a boat with balconies isn’t a suitable environment for children’.
Once on board, the young couple – who’d been kept in the dark about how their wedding would unfold – learnt that 14 KISS staff were handling their special day.
Everything from red carpet and rose petals to crisp white linen, a two-tiered wedding cake and videographers had been organised with much love and thought.
‘There was a staffer for every guest,’ chuckles Brendan, who wore a white dinner jacket with black trim to match Portia’s white beaded gown with shoestring straps, custom made by Karen Willis Holmes.
‘Weddings aren’t supposed to happen on KISS charters, because they’re set up to cater for hundreds of partying KISS enthusiasts, so they did a really good job getting us to the altar.’
The loved-up duo say they’re not massive KISS fans, but they’ve grown to love some of the group’s music.
‘We played I Was Made For Lovin’ You as our final wedding song, so that worked well,’ smiles Brendan. ‘But I believe if you’re friends, you can’t be fans.’
After the ceremony, KISS lead singer Paul Stanley dropped in to congratulate the newlyweds, along with band mates Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer.
A sumptuous banquet lunch in the ship’s bistro bar followed, before guests toasted the newlyweds.
‘It was a fairytale wedding, but we couldn’t find the right moment for a dance,’ reveals Brendan, who created one last surprise for his wife after the Kruise docked in Mexico.
‘I arranged speakers on the beach and we had our dance in front of friends to Ed Sheeran’s hit song Perfect.
‘Portia is my greatest love. She was singing in a jazz bar the day I met her, and I fell in love with her voice instantly. I was literally blown away and introduced myself to her.
‘Not long after, I set up a company to manage her music career, but I think I had false intentions.
‘Now, we’re inseparable and do everything together – from parenting to running our businesses and philanthropy.’
The husband and wife know their ‘Gene Simmons wedding’ won’t be recognised in Australia – as the cruise ship isn’t a registered location for weddings – but they plan to make it official as soon as they can.
‘Marrying Portia was the greatest day of my life and I can’t wait to make it official back home,’ Brendan adds.