Former South Sydney Rabbitohs star Jai Arrow and his wife, Berina Colakovic, have celebrated their wedding in Sicily, bringing family and friends together for a special occasion amid his battle with motor neurone disease (MND).

The couple exchanged vows on Saturday, October 10, beneath ancient olive trees at Borgo del Carato, a restored 19th-century farmhouse in the Sicilian countryside where Arrow proposed in 2024.

Their 18-month-old daughter, Ayla Rae, was also there for the celebration, along with family members from Australia and Canada and Arrow’s teammates.

“Having our daughter there made it even more special. To look around and see our families, who live on opposite sides of the world, all together in the place where Jai first asked me to marry him was something I’ll never forget,” Berina told Woman’s Day.

The couple first met in Sydney five years ago, with their relationship beginning over coffee in a local park while walking their dogs.

They had originally planned to marry in Sicily, but Arrow’s MND diagnosis in May prompted them to bring their wedding plans forward, with the couple holding a civil ceremony in Sydney’s Martin Place in July.

Despite the day starting of with heavy rain and thunderstorms, the couple were lucky enough that the sun came out just in time for their ceremony.

“There was thunder, lightning, and what felt like torrential rain all day. But just in time for our ceremony the clouds cleared, sun was out, and it couldn’t have been more perfect.”

For Arrow, 31, the day was an opportunity to celebrate the family they have built and the life they share, following his diagnosis and early retirement from the NRL.

At a recent fundraiser, he paid tribute to Berina, saying: “You are my best mate, my biggest supporter and the person I want standing beside me through all of this”.

He also shared a message for their daughter: “One day, when you’re old enough to understand all of this, I hope you know how much your dad loves you.”

The couple said their wedding represented more than the beginning of their marriage.

“Our wedding wasn’t just about celebrating the beginning of a marriage,” they said.

“It was about celebrating the life we’d already built, the strength of our relationship, and the promise to continue choosing one another through whatever comes next.”

Images: Instagram