How a shy cavoodle brought a moment of drama to the PM and Jodie’s perfect day

In the end, it went off without a hitch.

But for a few moments, on a windy Saturday afternoon in the national capital, the smooth running of the wedding of Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon hung in the balance as a shy cavoodle hesitated about walking down the aisle.

Toto Albanese, Australia’s first dog, was the designated ring bearer for the first wedding of a sitting prime minister.

But according to several guests at the wedding, held at The Lodge, Toto took more than a little convincing to walk down the aisle alongside Ella, Haydon’s five-year-old niece and flower girl.

“She was a reluctant ring bearer,” said one guest, who asked not to be named. “I don’t know if Toto was just feeling shy or confused or just a bit overwhelmed by all the people who were there, but she did need a bit of encouragement to walk down the aisle with the ring. But it was fine in the end.”

About 70 people witnessed the happy couple exchange vows, which they had written themselves. Guests included a mixture of Albanese’s political allies, school friends, family and even friends from his days growing up in social housing in the Sydney suburb of Camperdown.

The Lodge, a stately 1920s residence built as a temporary home for the prime minister of the day, was the perfect setting, with tables and chairs spread out across the gardens and plenty of space for a dancefloor.

Guests chose from a buffet [paid for by the couple, not taxpayers] that included beef, fish, a selection of vegetables and salads, prawns, oysters, a couple of desserts including tiramisu and a modern take on an Australian favourite, the pavlova, and a two-tiered wedding cake.

The verdict on the food was unanimous: absolutely delicious.

As a second guest, who also asked not to be named, put it: “It just felt like a normal garden wedding, not like you were at The Lodge watching the prime minister get married.

“There were a few things, like we were asked not to post any photos online, but it was just like any other wedding. Her friends were great, we all mingled, and Jodie’s mum and dad looked so happy, they were so proud to see their daughter get married.”

In keeping with the low-key nature of the event, the prime minister did not have a best man, nor Haydon bridesmaids. The couple both spoke briefly before the wedding cake was cut.

Before that big moment, both of Haydon’s parents, Bill and Pauline Haydon, spoke to guests, as did the prime minister’s son, Nathan Albanese.

And while guests were reluctant to reveal many details of those speeches, given the privacy of the entire event, one guest revealed that Bill Haydon had joked about being an Albanese fan longer than his daughter had been.

Guests universally praised Nathan Albanese’s speech. One revealed that the 25-year-old had spoken from the heart about how happy he was that his father had met Jodie and “how happy he is to have her in his corner” and in their lives.

Said that same second guest, who also asked not to be named so they could speak freely: “Jodie’s parents were so happy to see their daughter getting married. They were so proud, and Nathan gave a beautiful speech about his dad and Jodie. It was just a normal family wedding.”

The one notable absentee was Haydon’s 96-year-old grandmother Claire, who was unable to make the trip from the Central Coast due to her age and the logistics. The mother of nine was, however, spoken of fondly during the ceremony.

Finance Minister Katy Gallagher, a Canberra local, was one of the first guests to leave the special day and revealed on Sunday that while she had not personally tried the wedding cake because, “I’m not a cake person”, the two-tiered creation looked “stunning” and the guests had made the most of the dance floor.

“There was certainly a dance floor and there was music going, yes, and as anyone who knows the PM and Jodie, they both love music,” she said.

“It’s one of the things that they share together and so, yes, there was very tailored music.

“It was just a lovely night, a lovely day, lovely afternoon and the PM and Jodie were just thrilled with how it all went down and, hopefully, they’re resting this morning.”

And while no one ended up in the swimming pool that is nestled next to the house, in the sweeping grounds of The Lodge, the party went on until the early hours of the morning.

That first guest, who asked not to be named, said the party was still going strong when they had left after midnight and another said the celebration had kicked on until close to 3am, hours after staff had gone home.

And the overall verdict, according to a third guest: “It was homely, friendly and lovely. There was food and drink in abundance, people just left their phones in their bag and had a good time.”

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