A Rainy Wedding Miracle

On Saturday morning, I drove down to the Gold Coast to be Matt and Alyce’s wedding photographer. I was ready for a day I wouldn’t forget, but I wasn’t prepared for a rainy wedding miracle. After all, the weather was terrible! There were 80km winds, with a predicted 200 millimetres of rain between 10am and 4pm. It ended up being over 280mm. It was easy to imagine a wedding like no other. I wondered how Matt and Alyce would keep it together.

They’d put so much love and time into their wedding plans over the past 12 months. Thinking back over my experiences with other rainy weddings, I imagined walking through the door to see nothing but tears. During the drive down, I worried about how the weather might affect the couple. I rehearsed what I’d say if they became emotional. I was also trying to figure out the best way to elevate their spirits if need be.

However, when I finally arrived, Alyce and Matt’s beautiful smiles put me at ease. I can’t tell you how relieved I felt, and how happy I was for them! There was still hope that the day would go ahead as planned. The rain was very much an inconvenience, but it wasn’t going to win the upper hand. Everyone still intended to drive out to Piggabeen where Matt and Alyce would tie the knot.

A Change of Ceremony Plans

Prep was awesome! The most common sound I heard all morning was laughter. Every single person in that room was supportive, positive and jovial and I can’t commend everyone enough! Not one person said anything negative that might’ve changed the mood. It was one of the most enjoyable mornings I’ve ever had at a wedding!

Just before we were due to leave a very happy prep for the ceremony in NSW, Alyce’s mum broke the news. Flooding had cut the roads, and there was no way to get to the wedding. Instead, the ceremony would take place in the upstairs lounge room of the same hotel we’d been in all morning. I paused and held my breath, waiting for Alyce’s response. Her reply to her mum inspired me so much: “OK, great!”

So they got married in a lounge room overlooking the wildest seas I’ve seen in years. Even though the weather outside was gloomy and miserable, inside it was as if the sun was shining! Alyce and Matt’s motivation for their wedding was simple: to get married. The very real prospect of their plans going out the window didn’t put a dampener on their wedding ceremony. Matt and Alyce’s class and grace floored me! They’re so besotted with each other. Somehow, getting married in the lounge room seemed like it had been the plan all along!

The Rainy Wedding Miracle Continued

But that’s not the end of the story – merely the first part. Sure, Alyce and Matt had successfully exchanged their vows, but where would everyone celebrate? They’d planned to hold the reception at the Piggabeen property too. Here we all were, dressed to the nines in the lounge room of a hotel in Coolangatta. None of us would be driving to Piggabeen, NSW. Nor would we see the fully decorated marquee they’d so lovingly prepared for the big day.

So Alyce’s sister got on the phone and called a local radio station. The station then asked if any venues would donate a wedding reception space. It was a massive ask, and I can honestly say I didn’t expect a great response. Then the Arundel Hills Country Club so graciously put up their hand! That completely blew me away. I want to congratulate their General Manager, Marcus Sullivan, and his amazing staff. They turned what may’ve been a rather unfortunate evening into an event that paralleled other very well planned weddings. I’d also like to give a huge shoutout to Tammie Fowler, owner of interior design company Style onQ. With such little notice, she threw herself in to do her amazing part in saving the wedding. The room looked great!

I’ve been in this business for a while now. What both Style onQ and the Arundel Hills Country Club achieved was truly unfathomable! Everyone threw themselves into saving the day. I’m now so happy that for the rest of Alyce and Matt’s lives, they’ll get to look back on their wedding day. They’ll remember that they wholeheartedly enjoyed every second!

Matt and Alyce’s very (very) rainy wedding was a testament to something I believe. If love is the motivation for marriage, then nothing can take away from it.