The most innovative Adelaide COVID weddings of 2020
When COVID restrictions hit, brides and grooms had to get creative in order to still get married. We’ve found 15 of the best.
Lifestyle
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Monique Stagg had been planning her dream wedding since she was 16 years old.
“I had my binder folder with all of the coloured tabs sorted into categories and a spreadsheet for the day,” Monique says.
“But, nothing could prepare me for the year that was 2020.”
Just like thousands of other couples planning a wedding this year, Monique and her fiance Nick Beins, of Broadview, faced many challenges as restrictions changed.
However, couples proved that love prevailed as they came up with creative ways to still have the day of their dreams while staying COVID safe.
The Sunday Mail has compiled some of the most innovative wedding stories to come out of 2020, from cardboard cutouts of missing guests, to elopements and online live streams.
Monique Barbara Stagg and Nick Jasper Beins
Married at The Manor Basket Range, Mitcha Photography.
Half of the guest list for her marriage to Nick Beins was unable to attend from interstate and overseas.
So instead, more than 100 loved ones dressed in their finest and tuned into a live stream and socialised with others via the online chat on the big day.
“The wedding party was very inclusive and interactive with our virtual guests,’’ says Monique, who plans to reunite with the missing guests once restrictions allow.
“Two things are certain – one, we found comfort in the capabilities of modern-day technology.
“And two, I am looking forward to wearing my wedding dress to each and every single one of our post-wedding celebrations – it’s definitely going to get its money’s worth.”
Marc Tanilon and Kimberly Tanilon
Married at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Lifesketch Films photography.
Marc and Kimberly had to change their wedding plans several times, from a big celebration with more than 150 guests to just 25 people.
Kim’s parents are in Malaysia, and Marc’s father in the Philippines, so they were hoping travel could open up to allow their immediate family to join them. But as overseas travel became more and more impossible, their parents all gave their blessings for the nuptials to go ahead without them.
“In the end, it was an absolutely stunning and emotional celebration with two beautiful people,” Kimberly says.
Agata Malgorzata Chittleborough and Matthew Brett Leibhardt.
Married at groom’s parents’ property in Pewsey Vale, Rebekah Bianca Photography
Agata was born in Poland and, because none of her family was able to attend the wedding, they made sure to include several elements of Polish culture, from a traditional hat and tie to a shawl and amber jewellery. The bride and groom made paper hearts following a traditional Polish paper craft.
Tanya Tsekinis and Stan Kapoulitsas
Married at Saint Anthony’s Church, Jason Wong Photography
Tanya and Stan postponed their June wedding until November, but just days out from their big day, the Parafield cluster lockdown was announced. “My heart shattered in(to) a million pieces... Once again, our wedding would be cancelled. I burst out crying and called my fiance barely able to speak,” Tanya says.
That’s when Stan stepped forward with a bold suggestion: “Babe, want to get married tonight?”
Within a matter of hours, the venue was booked, family and friends called and the dress, flowers, photography, car hire company and hairdresser sorted.
“I walked down the aisle to (greet) the love of my life at 8.30pm that night... my husband had me home before midnight like Cinderella. We pulled off a magical night within a few hours. Love really does conquer all. COVID didn’t win again.”
Pauline Trigger and Daniel Long
Married at Adelaide Botanical Gardens, Alyce Capurso Photography.
One of Daniel’s groomsmen, Daniel McPharlin, was unable to attend from Victoria because of travel restrictions. The couple wouldn’t let him miss a moment of the action, though, and he attended as a life-size cardboard cut-out (pictured left, above).
Lloyd and Gabriella Morris
Married at Glen Ewin Estate, Lifesketch Films photography.
Lloyd and Gabriella Morris were preparing for the biggest day of their lives, but, when a six-day ban on weddings was announced, they made a split-second decision – they would marry in a matter of hours.
“We decided to put our love first,” Gabriella says.
The Balaklava couple secured suppliers, notified guests and wed in a “touching and beautiful” ceremony at Glen Ewin Estate at 7pm.
“We would not have been able to achieve such a spectacular result without the suppliers and also the love and help of friends and family,” the 24-year-old says.
The couple had a “homeymoon” while in isolation.
Cameron Sumner and Ingrid Irwin
Married at groom’s parent’s house in Kersbrook, Snap That Photography
Ingrid is from Louisville, Kentucky and Cameron proposed in May in front of the Sydney Opera House after reuniting after two weeks of hotel quarantine and three months apart.
“My younger sister and brother, Kim and Ian Irwin, were able to attend the wedding live via FaceTime, which was quite special,” Ingrid says.
“Cameron surprised me with a video compilation of all my closest friends and family congratulating us on our special day.”
As she missed the presence of family and friends scattered across the world, that thoughtful surprise “just about brought me to tears”.
Felicity Leighton and Phillip Moss
Married at Southland Church, Dan Evans Photography
Felicity and Phillip had planned the wedding of their dreams before COVID hit. The couple decided to wait and held onto hope that restrictions might ease before their big day.
Just two weeks out from their wedding, restrictions eased allowing 75 guests, which was the exact number they wanted - not including interstate and overseas family.
They had to change their venue to Southland Church’s auditorium to ensure social distancing. The couple organised outside caterers at the last minute and transformed the church into a stunning wedding location.
The wedding ceremony was live streamed so all interstate and overseas guests could watch online and feel part of the day, all dressed up and with a glass of bubbly to celebrate from their homes.
Sarah Wieszyk and Jack Hateley
Married at the bride’s parents’ house, Wynn Vale, Two Tell a Tale photography.
In March, just five days before their big day, Sarah and Jack found out that restrictions on weddings were coming with a five-guest limit.
“Watching the announcement live on TV, with my fiance beside me and mum on the phone, we were completely devastated,” Sarah says.
“We suddenly realised that if we wanted to celebrate our wedding with any family or friends, we would need to do it quickly.”
They moved their wedding forward to the very next day and altered the guest list.
“In the end, it was a day full of love, joy and tears,” Sarah says.
“We are thankful to everyone who helped us pull of a wedding in under a day.”
Branden Hill and Emma Mattner
Married at bride’s parent’s garden, Mount Barker, photos taken by guests of wedding.
After planning their wedding for two years, Branden and Emma had to change everything in two weeks.
With the changing restrictions, their wedding went from a sit-down formal dinner with 100 guests, to cutting the reception, to having only immediate family at the ceremony, to just five people in total.
“To say the ever-changing restrictions were stressful would be an understatement,” Emma says.
“In the end, it was the most amazing afternoon,”
The couple are planning their “wedding part two” with a renewal of their vows on their one-year anniversary and a honeymoon to New Zealand.
Afeeq Afandi and Azizah Ali
Married at Donato Reception Centre, Inspired Eye Photography.
Afeeq and Azizah’s wedding was supposed to be in September but was forced to be postponed to November.
However, just three days out from the big day, the Woodville cluster and six-day lockdown was announced.
“We were so devastated and I cried for three days,” Afeeq says.
Much to their delight, the restrictions lifted early, so they decided to quickly tie the knot before “all hell broke loose again”.
All their wedding vendors were available at short notice, and the couple say the ordeal meant their special day would be “memorable for years to come”.
“Our family members were able to view our ceremony in Malaysia via online broadcast at least - that was the best we could do,” Afeeq says.
Jessica Owers and Anthony Morgan
Married at Mollydooker Wines, Little Car Photography
Jessica and Anthony originally planned their wedding for November 2020 with 100 guests, however due to COVID and Jessica’s sister living in the USA, they postponed to April 2021.
With that date looking unlikely international travel, they decided to just get married with just their immediate family and set up a live stream her sister and other family members were able to watch. Afterwards, they went to Pizzateca for dinner.
Kayla Lipsys and Benjamin Brewer
Married at Al-Ru Farm, Sarah Anne's Photography
Kayla and Benjamin’s ceremony was very small, due to restrictions.
“This, however, worked in our favour and it was such a relaxing, romantic atmosphere, held by the fireplace with the sound of parrots in the background,” Kyra says.
Instead of a traditional reception, the couple opted for dinner with 20 close family members and friends.
Ben is from Timaru, New Zealand, so all of his family and friends watched live via social media.
“Regardless of restrictions, our day was unique,” Kayla says.
“It was perfectly amazing and we both wouldn’t change a thing.”
Adele Smith and Gary Cluse
Married at Steven’s Estate Garden, Snap That Photography
Adele and Gary’s wedding plans went down the drain, leaving them ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ on whether to postpone or elope with five guests.
Just two weeks from their date, they decided to elope and will redo the wedding later.
Samuele Schirripa and Jacqueline Bunyon
Married at St Ignatius Church, Embrace Photography
Samuele and Jacqueline’s plans changed many times due to restrictions, but then they decided, they weren’t going to let COVID “stop our dream of getting married”.
“We decided to postpone our reception as there was no dancing and drinking allowed but we still wanted to go ahead with the ceremony because at the end of the day, the most important part was that we got to get married,” Jacqueline says.
“So, we had our ceremony followed by an intimate dinner with our immediate family and some close friends at the Largs Pier.”
TAP BELOW FOR MORE STORIES OF LOVE CONQUERING COVID
Join the conversation
Locals back Emily’s ‘emu-sing’ antics after brush with the law
When images of the popular Adelaide ‘local’ and the police popped up on social media, neighbours wasted no time letting them know who they were messing with.
Read more
SA’s ‘near-perfect’ red beats the world – and it’s just $34
The family-owned South Australian winery is on top of the world after taking out a top international award with a wine that’s well within a normal household budget.
Read more