When comedian, author, and international broadcaster Tanya Hennessy began planning her wedding to longtime partner Tom Poole, she encountered something all too common for brides: the bridal industry simply did not cater to her needs.
“I walked into a store and they said, ‘we wouldn’t have anything for you,’” Tanya recalls. For many, that dismissal could have stopped them in their tracks, but for Tanya, it became fuel, and she sought the perfect partner to bring her vision to life. She teamed up with Wedded Wonderland, who aside helping from finding the right vendors and venues, suggested creating a bridal photoshoot celebrating body diversity. “I didn’t know where to start, so of course I started with Wedded Wonderland,” she says, and together they brought the idea to life. “You just don’t see those images of plus-size brides, so it was really cool to do a shoot that celebrated different body shapes.” A bold, beautiful statement and a reminder that bridal beauty comes in every size.
In Wedded Wonderland’s latest podcast episode, Tanya opened up about how her personal journey, from wedding planning to years of IVF struggles, grew into a larger conversation about inclusivity.
Enter Alysia Bridger, the planner who combined vision with precision. “If they were creative they weren’t super organized, or if they were really organized they weren’t creative. But Alysia’s both, which is actually hard to be,” Tanya explained.
And when Alysia broke her leg just before the wedding, her commitment never wavered. “I rang and I said, I will be on crutches for your wedding… my daughter will be my legs,” she told Tanya. With that, the day went on as magical and seamless as anyone could have hoped.
The result was a wedding that mixed modern whimsy with theatrical flair. Tanya walked down a pink aisle, the first of its kind in Australia, wearing an Ariel-inspired gown with puff sleeves that was equal parts modern and playful.
The tone of the wedding was all about atmosphere. “Good sounds, good music, good food, and good vibes,” Tom summed up. In that space, Tanya was fully present. “That was one of the best days of my life, because I was so present, and our vows were so honest.”
After taking photos in a nearby field, they returned to a reception that looked like something out of a dream: fairy floss, a pink champagne tower, and a vintage car waiting for them. For Tom, one of those photos remains “my favorite photo in the whole world.”
Beneath the joy of the wedding was a harder reality. Tanya and Tom had spent seven years fighting for this moment, through endometriosis, surgeries, and repeated IVF cycles.
Tanya invested nearly $120,000 in fertility treatments, even postponing her wedding and a potential move to Los Angeles to prioritize her health. “We pushed aside our wedding for three years because of the cost of IVF and endometriosis surgeries,” she revealed in the podcast.
Diagnosed with stage four endometriosis at age 35, she endured exhaustion, pain, and heartbreak. By her sixth IVF attempt, Tanya described herself as emotionally drained, with stress showing up in physical ways. Yet she persisted, finding strength in an “army of endo girls,” a supportive community of women facing the same disease.
When her seventh round of IVF finally succeeded, the news felt like a miracle. Tanya has since shared that her baby is due on Christmas Day, a promise she once made in her vows come full circle.
Tanya’s story is bigger than one wedding or one pregnancy. She has amplified a truth that resonates universally: every woman deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and worthy, whether she is walking down the aisle, navigating IVF, or announcing a long-awaited baby. “For people to have any space and time to even consider that this is a cool thing for us, it’s the best,” Tanya reflected. “People care.”
Tanya Hennessy’s journey, from pink aisles to IVF triumphs, proves that every woman deserves her story told in full color. To listen to the full podcast episode on Spotify, click here.
For more inspiration on creating a wedding that feels true to you, visit Wedded Wonderland. If you’re searching for the dream team who will listen, understand, and bring your vision to life, join our complimentary Wedded Concierge service or explore our Wedded Partners Global Listing. Your authentic celebration starts here, let’s get Wedded!
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