The Block’s Max and Karstan promised a surprise wedding, but few knew the pair tied the knot not long after finishing their apartment!
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as Newcastle miner Karstan Smith married the love of his life Maxine Stokes in a secret wedding ceremony in Melbourne.
Karstan, 27, and Maxine, 25, moved their wedding plans forward after securing themselves a spot on The Block, allowing producers to help create a ‘surprise wedding’.
The bride just had a couple of requests for her big day, choosing her own dress and bridesmaid’s dresses.
“I picked my dress, a Jane Hill design I’ve been obsessed with for years, and I wanted my girls and family here,” she says, pointing to her bridal party.
“And by having the wedding here in Melbourne we get to invite our new friends from the show, the other contestants, our builders and tradies, too.”
Getting ready in the apartment the pair have been working so hard on, Karstan was relaxed about marrying “the most drop-dead gorgeous girl in the world”.
“I have no nerves about marrying Max – that will be easy. It’s something we were always going to do. We’re just doing it on TV, which is such an incredible opportunity,” he said.
“It will be so much fun having all our new tradie mates there and the other contestants and our families – truly unforgettable. Probably the only thing I do worry about is that I’ll see her in her wedding dress and she’ll look so beautiful and I’ll be so happy I’ll cry.”
As the day unfolded at the beach-side location in St Kilda, it was clear the pair were made for each other.
And everyone from The Block was invited! Master of ceremonies Scotty Cam (there was also an official marriage celebrant to make it legal) stood proudly as he joined them in holy matrimony and was clearly chuffed for the happy couple.
“I was pretty nervous to officiate at a wedding as it’s a serious thing to do. It’s the rest of their lives. But I loved it,” he said.
Similarly enthusiastic was Scott’s co-host Shelley Craft.
“What a great couple. It’s just a pleasure to be part of this. “They are just so in love it’s a beautiful thing to behold.”
See all of the beautiful pictures and get all the details of Max and Karstan’s surprise wedding in this week’s Woman’s Day, on sale Monday September 22, 2014.