celebrity

"I just remembered... that time Elton John married a woman in Sydney in 1984."

 

The new trailer for Rocketman, the biopic on Elton John’s life, has just been released and it really does look glorious. When watching the two-and-a-half minute teaser, we are all reminded of the legendary singer’s extraordinary and vibrant life.

But there is one moment in the trailer, appearing for precisely 0.87 seconds, that gave us a glimpse into a moment that I had completely forgotten ever happened.

… That time Elton John married a woman in Sydney nearly 35 years ago.

Elton John Rocketman
The film's recreation of Elton John's wedding in 1984. Image via YouTube.
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You can watch the trailer of Rocketman below. Post continues after clip.

On Valentine's Day 1984, the iconic musician married German sound engineer Renate Blauel in Sydney's famous suburb of Darling Point at St Mark's church.

Photos from the special occasion are aplenty, showcasing Elton John's purple bow-tie and matching boater with his white suit jacket completing his colourful attire.

His bride Renate Blauel wore a flower crown with her traditional dress that had puffy sleeves to beat all puffy sleeves.

Elton John
Those sleeves though. Image: Getty.
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Elton John
This was an important moment in Australian history. Image: Getty.
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The dresses donned by the bridesmaids are, however, the highlight.

Elton John
These dresses win. Everything. Image: Getty.
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At the time of their marriage, Elton John, who's real name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight, had been openly bisexual for a number of years. But after the couple separated in 1988, the singer revealed he was gay.

When Australia was voting on the legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2017, Elton John reminisced on his 1984 wedding and revealed he still has "so much love and admiration" for his then-bride. However, he also shared how denying his sexuality at the time caused him great guilt - and how that impacted the couple's marriage.

"Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration," the British music legend posted to his Instagram.

"I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret."

He continued: "To be worthy of someone's love, you have to be brave enough and clear eyed enough to be honest with yourself and your partner."

Sharing an image of his wedding to Canadian filmmaker David Furnish in 2014, the now 71-year-old said, "Almost 24 years ago, I met the person with whom I could be fully myself."

"For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another, and for that to be recognised and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living. That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible and productive members of society, as well as the best parents, that we can be."

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I'm so excited to be back in Australia for a series of shows. Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration. I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret. To be worthy of someone's love, you have to be brave enough and clear eyed enough to be honest with yourself and your partner. Almost 24 years ago, I met the person with whom I could be fully myself. When we married in 2014, it felt like that fact was accepted by the world. For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another, and for that to be recognised and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living. That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible and productive members of society, as well as the best parents, that we can be. I love Australia. I love its spirit, its lack of pretence, its passion. I hope it can embrace the honesty and courage that seeks gay marriage as an expression not of desire but of love. #loveislove #marriageequality @davidfurnish

A post shared by Elton John (@eltonjohn) on

I of course could not be happier for Elton John accepting his own sexuality and now being in a much happier marriage to the love of his life.

But may we forever love and remember that time the legendary Elton John held a wedding in Australia.