Source : PERTHNOW NEWS
Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice and her husband, Mark Lassey, have continued their wedding celebrations with a second event in Perth.
“Because one night wasn’t enough,” the happy couple wrote in an Instagram post, sharing stunning photos from their second celebration, held just a day after their wedding.
Rice, 36, looked elegant in a halter-neck gown with a flowing train and a satin-like finish.
She styled her hair in loose waves and accessorised with statement earrings, adding a touch of glamour to her look.
Lassey, 46, complemented her beautifully in a crisp white suit paired with a matching white shirt, exuding effortless sophistication.
“We had the most amazing night celebrating our marriage and farewell with our favourite people, on the most amazing rooftop, in this beautiful city, under the presence of God,” the couple wrote in the post.
“Thank you to all our family and friends who flew from across the world to make these the most memorable days of our lives.
“And to all of our @kingdomcity family who prayed, encouraged and honoured our love story. You all mean so much to us and made these two days so special.”
The wedding comes less than a year after Rice and Lassey first met and just a few months after they announced their engagement.
The newlyweds were introduced through a mutual friend in February last year and remained in a long-distance relationship while Rice lived in Dubai.
“When we met almost five months ago, we both knew this was different!” Rice posted in July, alongside a photo of the couple.
“Because of the complexities of our lives we wanted to keep these first few months between close family and friends and enjoy the wonder of falling in love.”
Lassey proposed at Atlantis the Royal in Dubai in September.
Rice recently returned to Australia. The committed Christian attended the Kingdom City Church in Dubai when she was living there.
Lassey is a pastor in the same organisation, but based in Perth. According to his Instagram profile, he has three sons: Tyler, Joel and Luke.
Rice enjoyed a standout swimming career, winning three golds at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, including the 200m and 400m individual medley double.
She competed four years later in London after a series of shoulder injuries, but didn’t add to her medal tally.
Rice retired in 2014 and later revealed she had struggled to find “purpose”.
“I really struggled. I felt really lost after I finished swimming,” she said on SAS Australia in 2023.
“I didn’t feel like I had any purpose or any direction and I didn’t feel like anybody understood.”
When asked about her relationship status and whether she had a partner or any children, Rice broke down and said she was on her own.
“It’s harder,” she said, her voice breaking.
“I think it’d be nice to have somebody to go through the harder times.
“I would love to have somebody to help through, like ride the waves.”
