Sam Armytage’s wedding heartbreak: Sunrise host reveals her sister and husband Richard Lavender’s family couldn’t attend her nuptials – and why she was in tears just days beforehand
Samantha Armytage and millionaire businessman Richard Lavender tied the knot in an intimate Southern Highlands wedding on December 31.
But despite the nuptials being one of the happiest moments of her life, the Sunrise host, 44, was dealing with some hidden heartbreak.
Speaking to KIIS FM’s Kyle and Jackie O show on Wednesday, Samantha revealed how a large portion of the couple’s extended family were unable to attend.
Sam Armytage’s wedding heartbreak: Sunrise host reveals her sister and husband Richard Lavender’s family couldn’t attend her nuptials – and why she was in tears just days beforehand
Due to COVID-19, Sam’s London-based sister could not attend, as well as most of Richard’s family.
‘All of Richard’s family were locked down in the [Sydney’s] Northern Beaches. They tried to get an exemption, but weren’t allowed out.’
Sam, who lost her mother Libby in November, had her father, Mac, present, as well as her younger brother Charlie and his wife.
Richard’s daughters, Sasha and Grace, were believed to be in attendance.
An intimate affair: Sam revealed she planned her Southern Highlands wedding to Richard Lavender in just three days, and due to COVID-19 many family members could not attend. Pictured on her wedding day on December 31
Last-minute hitch: Sam was in tears one day before her wedding as her bridal dress by Carla Zampatti hadn’t show up in time and she struggled finding a replacement. Luckily it arrived just as Sam thought all hope was lost
With a limited guest list, Sam went about planning the special day for just 10 people in three short days.
However, there was a major hitch one day before she was due to say ‘I do’ that left her distraught.
‘I ordered my dress online and it didn’t turn up. I had to race to Bondi Junction to David Jones to try re-buy the dress, but it was gone,’ she told the radio hosts.
‘I was in tears running the length of Westfield Bondi. I looked like a mad woman.’
‘I drove back to Bowral in tears to Richard saying “I haven’t got a dress, we get married tomorrow!”‘ she recalled.
Luckily for Sam, when she thought all hope was lost she received a notification from the post office that her white long-sleeve dress by Carla Zampatti had arrived.
‘I was desperately scrambling to try find restaurants that would take ten’: The TV presenter chose to host wedding party on New Year’s Eve in a winery restaurant among other public diners and tourists
New life: For now, Sam lives in an apartment the city during the week to film Sunrise, and lives with husband Richard on the weekends. The couple hope to hold a proper party at a later date
The TV presenter also struggled to find a venue that would host the wedding party on New Year’s Eve.
‘I was desperately scrambling to try find restaurants that would take ten. I rang this winery and we booked a normal table in the restaurant with everyone,’ she said.
Sam said it was nice having other public diners coming up to congratulate them, and intends on having a proper party when all sides of the family can attend.
For now, Sam lives in an apartment the city during the week to film Sunrise, and lives with husband Richard on the weekends.
Sam said Richard does visit her a few times during the week, but he’s not overly fond of the city.
The happy couple started dating in April 2019, and announced their engagement in June last year.
How they came to be: Sam and Richard started dating in April 2019, and announced their engagement in June last year. Pictured on October 3