Well, folks, the year’s almost up and what a year it’s been. We’ve had our sad moments and our happy ones… and for some of us, we can’t wait for that fresh start New Year’s Day gives us. Bring it on!
But before that, let’s wrap 2018 up with some of the most memorable moments delivered to us by top influencers across the past 12 months…
The Weddings
Pia Muehlenbeck and Kane Vato
Pia walked down the aisle earlier this month in Byron Bay wearing a fitting nude and white dress adorned with white flowers by Pallas Couture to meet Kane for a tearful exchange of vows. And of course, influencers always inspire us with something; in this case, it’s Pia’s wedding planning. The couple eliminated the confusing question of dress codes by providing guests with a mood board of earthy tones.
Elsa’s Wholesome Life’s Ellie Bullen and Alex Watson
Held at the Orchard Estate in Clunes, Ellie Bullen married her “dream man”, Alex Watson on October 20 after getting engaged a year before at Joshua Tree National Park. The wedding followed an epic hens party held at The Palm House in Bali.
Rocky Barnes and Matthew Cooper
The spectacular outdoor wedding took place in New Jersey, with the couple saying “I do” in front of a floral aisle and guests who had made their way on cart drives. Rocky wore two different dresses by Atelier Pronovias, while Matt wore a suit by Franc Milton.
Chiara Ferragni and Fedez
After proposing to his bride with a fat solitaire diamond and welcoming a son later, singer Fedez took his fashion blogger fiancé by the hand and married her on September 1 this year at Dimora delle Balze in Sicily. Sharing pictures of the gorgeous event with the hashtag #theFerragnez, the couple tied the knot in an outdoor, non-religious ceremony.
Gary Pepper Girl’s Nicole Warne and Luke Shadbolt
Eight years after the pair found each other at a Christmas party, Luke proposed to Nicole on a boat on a lake in Japan under the cherry blossom trees. Three years later and the two were holding a spectacular wedding in Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, where Nicole walked the aisle in a custom-made Valentino Haute Couture dress, writing on her Instagram “Nearly 12 years together and it’s only getting better.”
The Engagements
Steph Claire Smith and Josh Miller
The couple got engaged on November 23 beside a fountain where they met over 10 years ago during a weekend getaway with friends and family. She later posted candid photos of their engagement saying, “…it has been the best weekend of my life… I am so excited for this new chapter with you my love”.
PewDiePie’s Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg and Marzia Bisognin
Felix popped the question in April this year, telling his YouTube fans in a combined video with Marzia that he was worried that he wouldn’t find the perfect ring in time for their trip to Japan in two weeks. In the end, he got one that was slightly too big, but Marzia assured him, saying, “I love it. It’s perfect.”
In The Frow’s Victoria McGrath and Alex Harrison
August 2018 saw Victoria given reason to add “bride to be” in her Instagram description after he got down on one knee in Vancouver. She posted a photo of their engagement with the caption, “A romantic bike ride around our favourite city, to the perfect spot in Vancouver, when he got down on one knee and made me his fiancée…”
Simone Anderson and Trent Forsyth
Trent proposed to Simone on November 27 by the mountains in Queenstown, New Zealand with a ring from Michael Hill. She posted a picture of Trent on his knee with the cheeky caption, “It was just over three years ago I met a man that I knew one day would be my husband (even if he didn’t then???).”
Harto‘s Hannah Hart & Heyyyella‘s Ella Mielniczenko
Hannah told Cosmopolitan that she wanted to be the one to pop the question to the Buzzfeed executive producer, and she did so under the beautiful Hawaiian sunset. She said, “Ella has been the brave one in our relationship, and so I really wanted to show her how much she means to me by being brave in return. I bought the ring in March and hid it in our apartment behind my board games, a place I knew she would never look.”
Honourable mentions: Stacey Allen and The Friendly Pirate and Marie Fe and Jake Snow
Babies and pregnancies
Kayla Itsines and Tobi Pearce
Earlier today, fitness influencer Kayla Itsines and partner Tobi Pearce both took to the Gram to announce the happy news that they are parents-to-be. Accompanying a video of a pregnant Kayla and the sonogram, she posted: “?20 WEEKS PREGNANT??? Tobi and I do not even have words to describe how happy and excited we are to bring you this news!? If you don’t know already, I come from a big greek family??. FAMILY is always what comes first in my life. To be able to start my own family with the person I love most in this world is just an absolute dream come true.”
Hilvees’ Hildegunn Taipale and Eljackson’s Samuel Taipale
Samuel and Hildegunn jointly announced their pregnancy on August 13, posting pictures of themselves alongside a sonogram. The caption wrote, “We’ve been keeping a little secret for some time now… ?We’re becoming a family of 3 ?Our hearts are full! ?”
Brooke Testoni
On June 10, Brooke and husband Leith welcomed baby boy Franco Van Testoni into the world… and the tot is already breaking hearts – with Brooke captioning a picture with him: “Franco Van breaking hearts”.
Colleen Ballinger and Erik Stocklin
Born on December 10, Colleen announced the birth of her baby boy on Twitter a day after saying “He’s perfect,” with the heart eye emoji. Welcome to the world, kiddo.
Nadia Bartel and Jimmy Bartel
Henry Roy Bartel graced the world weighing 3.98kg on October 17, making the fourth member of the Bartel family – and giving his big brother, three year-old Aston, a little more company.
Deaths
Sadly, 2018 also saw the loss of some amazing influencers who have inspired so many of us around the world. We’re here to commemorate them and the great lives they shared with us.
Claire Wineland
Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth and died just weeks after receiving a lung transplant, Claire dedicated most of her life to inspire and support people with chronic illnesses. She had a big heart and showed us what bravery was. Her sister wrote in the last post on her Instagram page, “I know how much it meant to her to have connections with people all around the world and it’s so special to see a group of people who don’t know each other come together in a time of sadness to become such an amazing support network. Thank you again…”
Kyrzayda Rodriguez
Stomach cancer never stopped Rodriguez from flaunting her stylish passion all the way to the very end, sharing her struggles openly and unashamed online. Unfortunately, her illness got the better less than a year after being diagnosed, but not before she had a chance to post one last beautiful message on Instagram: “Thank you God for another day!”
High on Life‘s Ryker Gamble, Alexey Lyakh (Wanderlust) and Megan Scraper (Mindy)
They really showed us the meaning of being “high on life” by being brave enough and taking part in activities like parkour, cliff jumping, giant rope swings, and kayaking. We lost great inspirations when they fell from a waterfall in Canada. They loved their adventure and wherever they are, we hope they’re enjoying a new one.
Sinead McNamara
She lived her life and made sure it was a good one, calling us to beach holidays and happy days from around the world. She excelled at sports and a champion national diver at one point. Unfortunately, Sinead was taken from us in August in Greece. Her sister Lauren told the Sydney Morning Herald, “She made no apologies for her gypsy soul. She traded routine and normality for the outskirts of the magical and the extraordinary.”
Tara Fares
We lost Iraq’s most followed online star in September 2018 after she was shot in her car. According to the Independent, speculation mounted on social media that it had been due to Tara’s outspoken nature against Iraq’s conservative culture towards women. We salute you, Tara Fares, and hope we can carry out your brave legacy.
Main image: xxx
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