“Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other. Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.”
Prue Derbyshire and Sam Cooper had their hearts set on a summer wedding.
From the moment they began planning their nuptials they had pictured themselves saying “I do” beneath a sunny blue sky.
The happy couple were engaged on 8/8/08 when Sam popped the question following dinner at the same restaurant where they had shared their first date the year before.
The couple – who met through Prue’s brother Peter – spent the next six months looking for the right venue before setting the date for March 6, 2010.
They decided upon a three o’clock garden ceremony at Corio Villa overlooking Geelong’s waterfront to be followed by a reception at Four Points by Sheraton.
Everything was falling perfectly into place for the pair … until Mother Nature stepped in.
“I checked the weather forecast on the Thursday and they predicted rain with thunderstorms and I thought, ‘Oh dear God I can’t believe this is happening’,” Prue recalls.
As she looked at the weather map the bride-to-be quickly accepted she might have to compromise on their dreams of an outdoor ceremony.
“It had been 30 degrees for the month leading up to it and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” she recalls. “At the same time I kept thinking, ‘Don’t panic, it will be fine’ and everyone kept saying to me, ‘You won’t even know on the day you will be thinking about too much other stuff’.
“I tried to take that advice and tried not to panic and just calmly organise things.”
Luckily for Prue one of her brothers manages an events hire company in Melbourne and quickly arranged a marquee large enough to fit the wedding party, celebrant, string quartet and 110 guests.
The marquee was erected on the day of the wedding and some last-minute adjustments were made to seating arrangements.
As the bridal car pulled up to Corio Villa at 3pm light rain was falling.
Prue – looking stunning in a strapless ivory satin gown by Pearls and Roses and carrying
a bouquet of orchids by Judy Chirnside Flowers – walked to the marquee under the cover of an umbrella held by her proud father Noel.
Prue admits to feeling a combination of nerves and excitement as she walked into the marquee where Sam and his groomsmen were waiting.
But the nerves quickly melted when the storm hit at a key moment in the ceremony and laughter rippled through the congregation.
“One of the readings was an Indian wedding blessing and there is a line in it that says something about rain and supporting each other through that. When my bridesmaid Kerry read that line there was a big clapping of thunder and the rain came pouring down. Everybody laughed because it was very ironic,” Prue recalls.
“It definitely created a lot of fun during the ceremony. It made for a relaxed environment because we weren’t sitting there in dead silence – we had the thunder and the pouring rain while we were saying our vows.”
Even the celebrant had to pause during the ceremony because she could not be heard above the thunder.
The rain cleared when the ceremony was over and everyone enjoyed a fabulous night at the Sheraton where they were entertained by People’s Poets and the groom’s brother Tom, who sang and played guitar.
Prue, a nurse, and Sam, a business analyst, had no worries about the weather during their honeymoon in Vietnam where it was a balmy 30 degrees every day.
Looking back Prue says she wouldn’t change a thing. She has even resigned herself to the fact her shoes and beloved wedding gown were muddied.
“There was no point in being upset because it just came together perfectly on the day. We are lucky we didn’t decide to get married in Melbourne because the hailstones they had were ridiculous. The storm was bad enough in Geelong.
“To be honest the rain made it really more romantic. I loved the day.
“It was by far the best day of our lives – rain, hail or shine.”
– Kylie Oliver
Oh rainy day: Always have a back-up plan for your ceremony if it’s outdoors. Have umbrellas at the ready to keep the bridal party dry and remember, a clear plastic brolly is perfect for the bride and can be a real feature in photos. Funky gumboots are a nice touch too. Nature can also serve up other challenges you need to plan for, such as extreme heat.
Oops, a stain or spill on your wedding dress: First, create an exclusion zone around your dress for dark-coloured lipsticks and drinks including wine to prevent the problem occurring. If it does happen, white chalk can often work wonders to hide a stain in an emergency. And brides, remember that everyone is there to look at your face and happy expression more than your frock.
Best man blues, he's forgotten the rings:
It's simple. Don't let it happen. Give him the rings just before the ceremony begins.
The band fails to front: You should always ring around everyone you’ve hired the week before the wedding to confirm the time, date and location. And, in the band’s case if that still doesn’t work, be versatile and plug an iPod into the stereo system or put on some CDs and that’ll crank up the crowd.
Heck, someone’s hurt: For peace of mind, make sure someone in your wedding party or close circle is handy with first aid. Hopefully you won’t have to use their skills but it’s better to be prepared.
If only I’d brought ...: Have an emergency pack handy with things like needle and thread to replace buttons or sew up tears on the dress. It can also contain simple things like small toys to calm and contain young children who are threatening the ceremony’s peaceful harmony, insect repellent and Band Aids.
Extra guests: Do your homework. Ring (or delegate to someone else) the people who
haven’t RSVP’d a fortnight before the big day. Some experts advise you then add another five
to the final head-count you give your caterer just to be safe.
Terrible tucker: The trick to avoid this is forward planning. Schedule tastings with your caterer in the lead up to the big day so you can try everything you plan to have on the menu. That way you know what turns up at the reception will suit your taste buds.
Photo frustration: You need to do your research to make sure your wedding photo locations are suitable. If you plan to have photos taken on a beach, then check the tide charts to make sure the tide’s out for those perfect pics or you’ll be waist deep in water. Always have indoor alternatives just in case it rains.
The shakes during speeches: Turn a potential disaster into a triumph by practising what you want to say and having note cards handy. Please don’t wing it. And if you’re giving a toast, be prepared.
Too much to do: Just be practical and don’t overload yourself. Remember, this is your wedding day and you’re meant to enjoy it. So delegate some of the work before the wedding and on the day to people you trust.
Be prepared: Be as organised as possible. Surround yourself with capable professionals and make sure everyone with tasks to do on the wedding day has a copy of the running order.
And stay calm and enjoy yourself: Even in the face of disaster take a big breath and stay calm. This is your big day. Perhaps you might have to change plans slightly to side-step a problem, but sometimes that can make the event even better. So be positive, not petulant.
