Bondi Sands Founder Spends Big on Destination Wedding After Selling Empire for $450M

It was a smooth finish for the co-founder of fake tan brand Bondi Sands as he tied the knot with his perfectly bronzed fiancée in Los Angeles over the weekend.

A Daily Mail snapper captured Shaun Wilson and new bride Tess Shanahan during their first moments as man and wife as they stepped out for a photo shoot after saying ‘I do’ at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday.

Aussie accents were ‘everywhere’ at the iconic hotel on Sunset Boulevard as guests arrived on Friday for what we are told was ‘a three-day extravaganza for the ages’.

The big rumour at the wedding was that Shaun – who co-founded Bondi Sands in 2012 with business partner Blair James and later sold it to Japanese multinational Kao Group for $450million in 2023 – had lavished a million dollars on his big day.

Tess – a model, wellness entrepreneur and host of the ‘Tess Talks’ podcast – looked stunning in a strapless silk gown which featured a high slit and an elegant veil.

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It was a smooth finish for the co-founder of fake tan brand Bondi Sands as he tied the knot with his perfectly bronzed fiancée in Los Angeles over the weekend

A Daily Mail snapper captured Shaun Wilson and new bride Tess Shanahan as they stepped outside for a photo shoot after saying ‘I do’ at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday

Our photos showed the couple striking a series of cinematic poses for the wedding photographer, with Shaun lifting up his bride’s leg as she leaned back to kiss him.

The groom looked dapper on his big day in a classic black suit.

The couple announced their engagement in July 2023, about a month before Bondi Sands and its related companies were sold to the Kao Corporation.

‘30.07.23 – My forever,’ Tess captioned a gallery of photos of the elaborate proposal, which included pictures of her huge diamond ring.

They would go on to welcome their first child together before making it down the aisle: their daughter, Romee Rae Wilson, was born in September 2024.

About a month before the wedding, Shaun held his bucks party in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

After flying into the Harbour City from Melbourne by private jet, his entourage of mates rolled up to Mimi’s in Coogee in a stretch Hummer.

After lunch, the boys retired to a mansion in Vaucluse for a private party.

Our photos showed the couple striking a series of cinematic poses for the wedding photographer, with Shaun lifting up his bride’s leg as she leaned back to kiss him

Tess made sure to show off her spectacular diamond ring

The groom looked dapper on his big day in a classic black suit

Shaun co-founded Bondi Sands in 2012 with business partner Blair James, and later sold the company to Japanese multinational Kao Group for $450million in August 2023

Shaun announced his engagement to Tess back in July 2023

The couple welcomed their daughter, Romee Rae Wilson, into the world in September 2024

Tess, 28, is a Melbourne-based model, entrepreneur and podcast host

Thirteen years ago, Shaun co-founded Bondi Sands after spotting a gap in the market: a way for Australians to achieve a sun-kissed glow without the harmful effects of UV exposure.

By 2021, the brand held 60 per cent of Australia’s self-tanning market and had become the best-selling self-tanner globally, stocked in over 30,000 stores worldwide, including major American retailers such as Walgreens, Ulta Beauty, Target, CVS and Rite Aid.

Like her husband, Tess has a sharp business mind.

At 28, she’s the founder of Verve Superfoods, a brand producing natural powdered blends designed to supercharge smoothies.

And during her modelling days, she walked for the likes of Alex Perry, Steven Khalil, David Jones, Myer, Lisa Marie Fernandez and more.