Almost 26 years ago, 60 Minutes reporter Liz Hayes introduced Peter FitzSimons to Lisa Wilkinson.
FitzSimons, a former rugby player turned journalist and author fell in love “very fast”. It was only a matter of months before he proposed to Wilkinson, who by that point already had a media career so accomplished it was hard to believe she was only in her early 30s. She was the youngest editor of Dolly magazine at 21, before becoming editor then International Editor-in-Chief of Cleo.
In a podcast with Mia Freedman, FitzSimons said, “It just felt right. It didn’t feel hard. It was on a Sunday night, and I said: I’m tired of this, will you marry me?’ And she said: ‘Yes, I will marry you’.”
Listen: Mia Freedman interviews Lisa Wilkinson on No Filter. Post continues after audio.
They were married the year after they met, in 1992, and 25 years later, they have two sons and a daughter, and have seen each other through two of the most prominent media careers in the country.
On Saturday, they marked this occasion by marrying for the second time at Sydney’s Balmoral Bathers Pavilion. Wilkinson was walked down the aisle by her 22-year-old son Louis, and her 20-year-old daughter Billi was her bridesmaid.
Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons renew their wedding vows.
Wilkinson’s dress was Pallas Couture, and interestingly, the dress was actually the catalyst for the second wedding.
Before the 2015 Logies, Wilkinson was wearing the very same dress when she asked her husband whether it was too bridal for the event. His response was, “I don’t know what it is… but our 25th wedding anniversary is in two years, let’s get married again?”
Wilkinson told Daily Mail Australia at the time, “So in two years’ time we are going to… get married again. I have plenty of time to prepare for another wedding. I’ll wear this dress.”
And she did.
Speaking to Mia Freedman last year, FitzSimons said although his marriage isn't perfect, he and Wilkinson have "a bloody good relationship".
“We don’t have 365 blissful days a year. I say we have 50 blissful days a year, 300 pretty good days and 15 shockers,” he said.
“But as we have got older, no joke, 15 shockers are now down to three shockers.”
He did, however, share two pieces of wisdom about marriage.
First: “For it to really work, you’ve both got to be nesting at the same time and you have both got to be ready".
Second: "A good relationship is like peeling an onion. You never want to get to the centre of the onion and feel ‘I understand this person.’
“I still don’t understand this person [Lisa],” he laughed.
Top Comments
It's a recommitment.
I don't understand the 'second' wedding concept. By all means celebrate your anniversary and making it 25 years, but the white wedding dress; bouquets; bridal table and all the get up? Augh.
You don't understand it?
Ah, but that's because you're obviously not a show pony.
To each their own. I don't understand it either, but they seem very happy together and enjoy a party.
Sorry for saying this but you always seem very bitter and unhappy. If you honestly think a happy couple are a 'show pony', well that is sad, and I put it down to jealousy.
Considering the divorce rate, I think it’s great - we should be happy for them.