Stephanie Panozzo may be playing a blushing bride on Home and Away, but the reality of shooting a wedding in Summer Bay came with some surprising preparation tips.

The actress, who has appeared on the show since 2022, revealed that long-time cast member Ada Nicodemou offered her some unexpected but practical advice before filming the big day.

‘Ada told me to rest up because it’s a long day,’ Panozzo told Stellar.

It was her first time wearing a wedding gown – both on screen and off – and she admitted the moment felt surreal.

‘It was very strange, actually, to put on a wedding dress,’ she recalled.

On screen, her character Eden is preparing to tie the knot with police officer Cash Newman (Nicholas Cartwright).

But as with most weddings in Summer Bay, happiness is short-lived.

Panozzo teased that viewers should brace themselves for more heartbreak. ‘It’s been a big year already for Home and Away,’ she said.

‘And so now we have a beautiful day of wedded bliss before tragedy strikes the Bay, and we’re going to lose another one of our friends.’

The actress admitted she looked to past Summer Bay storylines for inspiration, particularly the emotional 2009 nuptials of Belle (Jessica Tovey) and Aden (Todd Lasance).

She noted that Eden’s dress even echoes Belle’s in a subtle way, with touches of black woven into the design.

The wedding was filmed at the historic Wallalong House in the Hunter Valley, where the cast enjoyed what Panozzo described as a ‘school camp’ atmosphere.

Guest stars Tammy Macintosh, Aaron Jeffrey and Peter Phelps were also part of the away shoot, adding to the sense of occasion.

Despite a few rain delays, Panozzo said the effort put into the production will pay off for audiences.

The actress, who has appeared on the show since 2022, revealed that long-time cast member Ada Nicodemou offered her some unexpected but practical advice before filming the big day. (Pictured with co-star on-screen husband Nicholas Cartwright)