Australian model and yoga instructor Ashley Hart has quietly married her long-term partner Marco Utah in an intimate ceremony that remained a closely guarded secret for more than two weeks before being revealed to the public. The 37-year-old tied the knot on January 8, 2026, choosing to celebrate her special day away from the public eye before finally sharing the first images from the wedding on Instagram this week.
A Deeply Private Celebration
The couple, who first met in 2020 and welcomed their son Priest in December 2023, opted for a profoundly private celebration attended only by their nearest and dearest. In a series of romantic images posted online, Ashley stunned in a satin off-the-shoulder mini dress created by Melbourne fashion house KYHA Studios, paired with an intricate lace veil that trailed dramatically behind her as she posed inside a historic chapel.
Modern Simplicity Meets Old-World Elegance
The pared-back bridal look represented a deliberate departure from tradition, with the model embracing modern simplicity while still incorporating old-world elegance through her dramatic veil. Reflecting on the ceremony in a poetic Instagram caption, Ashley described the moment as timeless and deeply spiritual, marking January 8, 2026, as the day she and Marco officially became husband and wife.
She paid special tribute to her sister, supermodel Jessica Hart, who served as maid of honour and walked her down the aisle, while also thanking other family members who played significant roles on the day. Ashley acknowledged loved ones who were unable to attend in person, admitting it was a difficult decision to keep the ceremony so intimate but promising that larger celebrations were still to come.
Heartfelt Tributes and Celebrity Reactions
Ashley reserved her most heartfelt words for her new husband, praising his unwavering commitment to their family and the way he consistently shows up for her and their son. Well-wishers quickly flooded the comments section with messages of love and congratulations, with several high-profile friends praising Ashley's bridal look and the intimate ceremony.
Jasmine Yarbrough wrote, 'Wow stunning. Congratulations love xx,' while model Esther Anderson added, 'Congratulations Ashley,' alongside heart emojis. Lana Wilkinson shared her joy, commenting, 'Congratulations beautiful. So happy for you. You deserve only the best. You look stunning xx.'
Renée Bargh gushed over the images, writing, 'Look at you!! These are so beautiful. Congrats my love x,' as KYHA Studios also chimed in, congratulating the newlyweds as 'two beautiful humans.' Stylist Tully Humphrey echoed the sentiment, adding, 'Congratulations. How beautiful xx,' as fans continued to describe the wedding album as flawless and deeply romantic.
From Secret Engagement to Wedding Bells
The wedding follows Ashley's announcement of their secret engagement in April 2025, when she shared images of her massive diamond ring from Abercrombie Jewelry in the US alongside a heartwarming poem commemorating the milestone. 'I sat at our beach spot again today, four months on... The waves surfable, the weather calm... Reflecting on it all,' she wrote at the time.
Ashley added that the waves at the beach had broken her open and made space for their love, writing: 'To our partnership, to our beautiful little son. And to the divinity of every moment that gets amplified as "we do". I've never been more sure, as I stand still that we're exactly where we're supposed to be as the Earth circles the sun—and allures us to a destined path out of the millions we could have taken. This is our one.'
A Journey to Marriage
Ashley and Marco confirmed their relationship in August 2020 after meeting earlier that year. Her relationship with Marco came after a short fling with ski lodge entrepreneur Brett Leve in 2019, following her divorce from jewellery designer Buck Palmer in 2017 after two years of marriage. Ashley and Buck had dated for seven years before marrying in Los Angeles in 2015.
They announced their breakup through a bohemian photo shoot showing them dancing on a hilltop—a concept strikingly similar to other photos Ashley later posted of herself and Brett. In the caption, she penned an emotional poem about her ex, writing in part: 'Forever infinitely dancing, like us now, on this hilltop.' Buck has since moved on and is currently in a relationship with Victoria's Secret supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio.
The newlyweds' journey from meeting in 2020 to welcoming their son in 2023, announcing their engagement in 2025, and finally marrying in 2026 represents a carefully paced progression of their relationship, culminating in a wedding that perfectly reflected their preference for privacy and intimacy over public spectacle.
