A bride has been left devastated after floodwaters trapped her at a riverside farmhouse, separating her from her fiance on their wedding day.
Taree nurse Anya Kerrigen and her boyfriend James Farrawell had been planning to get married on Saturday after saving for their dream wedding for three years.
But the bride and 27 members of her family and friends were trapped ina picturesque riverside farmhouse, while the groom and his friends are just 50 minutes drive away in Taree, unable to join them due to road closures after the Manning River flooded.
Night Without Electricity
The brother-in-law’s brother Daniel Farrawell told news.com.au that family members, including his grandparents, spent the night lighting up tents and a farmhouse.
“The bride and both sides of the family spent the night without electricity,” he said.
In the worst case scenario, the groom had decided to return to Taree last night to honor the tradition of not having couples spend the night before their wedding together.
“The groom has been trying to marry the bride for years and between COVID and this flood it proves that the best things in life don’t always come easy,” Mr Farrawell said.
“Without a helicopter this wedding over and done for.”
What Next?
Mr Farrawell said people had travelled from around Australia for the wedding and realising this morning the ceremony could not go ahead had left the bride “devastated” and groom “shattered”.
“You cannot put your hopes and dreams into a wedding and not shed a tear when it falls apart in front of you,” he said.
“However, seeing the devastation happening along the Mid North Coast, our only concern now is that everyone is safe.”
Mr Farrawell said the groomsmen this morning went to see the Manning River, which flows past Taree.
“It’s strange, the sun is shining but there is houses and shed floating past us in the floodwater of the Manning River,” he said.
The good news is that the bride and other guests are on high ground and after dealing with the initial disappointment have decided to break open the bubbly.
“They have enough food and beverages to feed an entire wedding so despite their situation they have everything needed to hold a wedding — except the groom of course,” Mr Farrawell said.
