Credit: Instagram
Kary Brittingham is officially a married woman.
Last Thursday, June 20, just under a year after lawyer Mark A. Anderson, 58, proposed in Tuscany, Italy, he and the 53-year-old Real Housewives of Dallas star, who split from ex-husband Eduardo Brittingham in 2021 after 12 years of marriage, tied the knot in a romantic outdoor wedding in Sicily, Italy.
“I am so excited to have found ‘my person,’ who I want to experience life with and grow old with,” Kary told PEOPLE on June 25. “Finding Mark was like finding a needle in a haystack; someone that enjoys life the way I do and has the exact same life goals as I do. Getting married to him gives me a piece of mind that I found my person to spend the rest of my life with.”
“Kary and I are in absolute alignment on how we approach life and it is incredibly peaceful to know that I will be able to grow old with someone who loves me unconditionally and who brings me incredible happiness,” Mark agreed. “She’s a true partner and I’m looking forward to experiencing all that life has to offer with her by my side.”
For their traditional Italian ceremony, which a local town officiant officiated and translated, Kary and Mark, who met on Match.com in 2022, wrote their own vows and exchanged them in front of 11 guests, including Mark’s daughter Turner, 24, and Kary’s kids, Sofia, 26, Olivia, 24, Alex, 22, and Isabella, 17.
“We chose to make this family only, so it was just our five children and their plus ones,” Kary explained. “We both admire each other’s devotion to our children and have embraced taking on each other’s children as our step kids. We really are one, big, happy family.”
Kary chose a “simple but sexy” dress by Ese Azenabor and heels by Christian Dior while Mark opted for an ivory suit and blue tie.
Following the wedding, Kary, Mark, and their guests were treated to a reception at a villa in Taormina, which was decorated with elegant chandeliers, candles, and flowers. During the outdoor event, local Chef Marco D’Agati prepared traditional Italian dishes like tagliatelle bolognese with truffles, rigatoni pasta with lobster, salt-crusted branzino with steamed vegetables, and tiramisu, Kary’s favorite, for dessert.
Amid their wedding week, Kary and Mark spent time with their family, visiting local wineries, shopping, and enjoying a day at the Tao Beach Club.
When it came to planning their overseas nuptials, Kary described the process as “very challenging.”
“There was a lot we had to figure out until we arrived in Taormina, like our food tasting for the wedding dinner,” she recalled. “But the most stressful part was when our original villa canceled due to construction issues. We had to scramble to find a replacement villa that could accommodate all of us. Luckily, we found an amazing villa with picturesque views of the Mediterranean, but that was nerve-wracking.”
Days later, Kary and Mark are honeymooning in Bora Bora, Bali, and Hong Kong.
“We are in the same place in our lives and want to go have fun all over the world together,” Kary explained. “We want to spend more time at our places in Los Angeles, where two of our kids live, and in Puerto Vallarta, where I grew up going to as a child. Just traveling and having fun and enjoying our each other. Because we’re both passionate and love to celebrate life together.”
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After Kary shared a series of photos on her own Instagram account, a couple of her former RHOD castmates, Stephanie Hollman, 44, and Kameron Westcott, 41, weighed in, as did Kary’s daughter, Olivia.
“These pics are so dreamy. You look stunning. So happy for yall,” wrote Stephanie.
“So happy for you guys … Love you both so much!!!” Olivia proclaimed.
“So happy for you guys!! Love the pics!! I’ve been on pins and needles waiting to see some!!!” added Kameron.
The Real Housewives of Dallas aired for five seasons from April 2016 to May 2021.