Lucy Graham has officially taken her new husband Sam Burgess’ surname after they tied the knot in a secret wedding in Italy.
NRL great Sam, 35, and hairdresser Lucy, 33, exchanged vows in front of their loved ones in a romantic ceremony held at Villa Aurelia in Rome on Sunday.
They have already shared a gallery of gorgeous photographs from their special day to Instagram as they have given an insight into their extravagant nuptials.
Now, Lucy has taken a big step in her married life just days after tying the knot as she has officially taken on her new husband Sam’s surname.
She has changed her Instagram name from ‘Lucy Graham’ to ‘Lucy Burgess’ and updated her handle to ‘itslucyburgess’ to reflect her moniker change.
She has become a new addition to the Burgess clan as Sam’s ex-wife Phoebe also still uses her married name, still going by ‘mrsphoebeburgess’ on Instagram.
Phoebe has not reverted back to her maiden name Hooke after revealing she would keep Sam’s surname to have the same one as their children – daughter Poppy, seven, and son Billy, five.
Phoebe was asked about changing her name during a wide-ranging interview with journalist Mia Freedman on the No Filter podcast in 2021.
Lucy Graham has officially taken her new husband Sam Burgess’ surname after they tied the knot in a secret wedding in Rome, Italy, on Sunday (pictured)
Lucy has taken a big step in her married life just days after tying the knot as she has officially taken on her new husband Sam’s surname on her Instagram page
She told the Mamamia founder that even though her passport and email still have her maiden name Hooke, she wants to have the same last name as her children.
‘I drop my kids off to school every day, and I’ve got a big sign on my car that says Burgess, and we are three Burgesses because that’s their name, so I deserve to be the same name as my kids,’ she said.
Phoebe described the decision as ‘choosing to be a part of a family unit’ and a ‘personal preference’, regardless of the fact she is now divorced.
‘I’m choosing to own it a little bit. This is my story. It’s where I’ve come from,’ she said firmly.
‘And they were decisions I made with a really full heart at that time. And it’s almost like wearing those scars with a bit of pride.’
Sam and Phoebe tied the knot in 2015 but separated in late 2018 before briefly rekindling their romance in early 2019.
They split permanently on October 2 that year and later divorced, with Phoebe moving to Bowral with her children.
She has become a new addition to the Burgess clan as Sam’s ex-wife Phoebe (pictured in 2016) also still uses her married name, still going by ‘mrsphoebeburgess’ on Instagram
In October 2022, Sam then went public with his new girlfriend Lucy and he proposed just months later in June 2023.
They welcomed their daughter Robbie, now 13 months old, in September 2023 just less than a year after they went public with their romance.
The following month, the family moved to the UK when Sam took on the position of head coach at Warrington Wolves Rugby League Club.
On Sunday, the couple tied the knot at Villa Aurelia, a 17th-century Baroque property set on the highest point within the walls of Rome and features breathtaking views of the city.
Weddings in the picturesque setting begin at $18,000, with the venue being able to accommodate up to 300 guests.
Lucy looked heavenly in a Champagne-hued gown by designer Paula Nadal that featured a structured bodice that tumbled into a floor-length voluminous skirt.
The couple made sure their daughter Robbie was an integral part of the day’s celebrations as they were seen sweetly cuddling her throughout the nuptials.