But those tears of joy turned to tears of sorrow less than a week later when her new husband was killed in a four-wheel-drive crash while they were on their honeymoon in Thailand.

Both aged 26, the happy couple were with seven other Australian tourists and two Thai guides in southern Phuket last Friday at about noon when their tour jeep plunged down an embankment.

Leigh Murtz, a friend of the couple who went to school with Mrs Malonzo (nee Dykstra) at Campbelltown High School, said Mr Malonzo was a ``true gentleman''.

``He was very passionate about the things that he loved,'' Mr Murtz said of the ANZ Campbelltown employee.

``He loved ... his motorbike, his car and of course Aimee.''

He said Mr Malonzo, a bodybuilder who won last October's Novice Men's category at the ANB Australian Titles, ``wasn't a huge guy but he had a huge heart''.

``I'll just miss his presence when he walked into a room, you knew he was there,'' an emotional Mr Murtz, 26, said.

Mrs Malonzo, owner and principal of Bradbury's Unique Dance Productions, was shielded from her husband in the crash but sustained a broken pelvis.

``He let his true colours shine,'' said Mr Murtz, who found out about the crash on Saturday morning.

``They were a fantastic couple. Perfect for each other.''

Mrs Malonzo's parents Allan and Cheryl Dykstra and Mr Malonzo's father Isaac and sister Katrina flew to her bedside on the weekend.

Mr Murtz has communicated with Mrs Malonzo via email and said: ``you could tell she was quite upset but you could also tell she was proud of her husband she said he was a true champion, an inspiration''.

He said she hoped to leave hospital yesterday and return on the same flight as her husband today but it didn't look promising.

The couple had been together for eight years, were engaged for two, and were married only 11 days ago at Camden's Mater Dei Chapel.

A benefit night to support the Malonzo and Dykstra families, including to help pay funeral costs for Mr Malonzo, will be held this Monday (January 25).

A night full of entertainment from friends, students and guest performers will be held at Wests Leagues between 6.30pm and 8.30pm.

Cost is $10 per person there will also be a donation vase and seats will be limited so get in early.