What dreams are made of: Alex and Ian’s romantic Sydney wedding

She dreams of representing Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, but there was a bigger dream to fulfill beforehand, marrying her beau.

Alexandra Green, 28, met Ian Lisney, 32, through her best friend – whose husband happened to have a cute single brother! Just one bike-riding date later – fit for a girl who is a Paralympic cyclist – and they were a couple. “We said ‘I love you’ to each other a month later and secretly both knew that we would spend the rest of our lives together,” smiles Alex.

Proposing to a girl who is a ‘real winner’, including becoming world champion and gold medallist from the 2012 Para-cycling Track World Championships, Ian, a builder, sought an appropriate engagement ring for Alex. “He knew I loved platinum, straight lines (no circles) and made it aerodynamic because I am an elite cyclist and he wanted me to wear it while I raced my bike,” explains Alex, who has mild cerebral palsy. “It is so beautiful and catches the light, especially with my wedding band of diamonds.”

After Ian’s Christmas Day proposal, 2014, the pair wed at their romantic Sydney wedding on September 12 the following year. Public Dining Room at Balmoral Beach hosted the nuptials, attended by just over 100 guests. “The theme of the day was a classic secret garden, lots of flowers, sunshine, water and friends,” says Alex. “It was made all the more special because our celebrant was one of our best friends, Eliza McAllister.”

Speeches were a highlight, including the father-of-the-bride’s who got the crowd laughing with ‘Alex and Ian’ stories, and afterward the newlyweds danced to Etta James’ “At Last.”

“We are no Patrick Swayze and Baby,” jokes Alex, “but we enjoyed our first dance together as husband and wife.”

Photos courtesy of Society Photography.

Alex found her glamorous Pronovias gown and bolero at Brides of Beecroft.

“After we had [first-look] photos together we jumped on a water taxi at Taronga Zoo and shot across Sydney Harbour to Balmoral Beach,” says Alex.

“The highlight of the day was marrying the love of my life under the most amazing floral arch in front of Sydney Harbour,” beams Alex.

Concludes Alex, “Our love is stronger than ever since we said ‘I do’ together down by the beach at Balmoral.”