‘My heart’: The wedding at the centre of Hunter Valley bus tragedy

Hours before a bus carrying guests crashed in the Hunter Valley, stunning pictures on social media showed a blissful bride and groom at their wedding ceremony.

A Hunter Valley football club is rallying around its distraught members who were at the wedding of star player Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell prior to the catastrophic bus crash.

As NSW reels from the largest single motor vehicle crash in decades, details of the wedding at the centre of tragedy have begun to emerge.

The groom, Mr Gaffney, is a highly-regarded and longtime member of the Singleton Roosters AFL Club.

A committee member told The Daily Telegraph the club was in “total shock” and would meet on Monday to find a way to help everyone involved.

“I was at the wedding, not on the bus, obviously, but yes I was there earlier,” the committee member said.

Bride and groom Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell, and their wedding celebrant Ashley Ogle. Picture: Instagram

Stunning pictures were posted on social media of Mr Gaffney and his bride on Sunday afternoon at their ceremony in the picturesque grounds of Wandin Estate in the Hunter Valley.

Wedding celebrant Ashley Ogle posted a video of Mrs Gaffney arriving at the ceremony in a Volkswagon Beetle lovingly restored by her father.

Wandin Estate in The Hunter, where the nuptials took place. Picture: Supplied

“Maddie also rocked up to the ceremony in a restored 1952 beetle convertible. It was so cool,” Ms Ogle posted on Instagram.

“So her dad, like they’ve been holding onto it for 42 years, and he got it ready for Madeleine … It was so cool to see her rock up in this bug.”

In another photo, Ms Ogle wrote “my heart” as she pictured a smiling Mr Gaffney as his bride arrived.

Newlyweds Mitchell and Madeline Gaffney cut their wedding cake. Picture: Instagram

Bride Madeleine Edsell arriving at her wedding.

Wandin Estate cellar door manager Matt told The Daily Telegraph he had “no words” to describe the overnight tragedy following the Gaffney’s wedding.

“I can’t even get the words out, that should pretty much tell you how traumatised we all are,” Matt said.

The wedding was held at Wandin Estate.

The bride and groom Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell.

Guests at the Gaffney’s wedding had spent the night dancing and celebrating at the popular reception venue before about 45 people boarded a bus to take them back to Singleton.

At 11.30pm, the bus rolled as it entered a roundabout at Branxton, north of Newcastle, killing 10 people and injuring 25 others.

Instagram photos showed the wedding guests celebrating on Sunday.

A crisis hotline has been set up for family members to contact police for information about passengers as officers work to identify crash victims and contact their next of kin.

“Family and friends of a person who may have been on board the bus are urged to contact Cessnock Police Station on 02 4991 0199,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Witnesses - or anyone with information relevant to the circumstances surrounding the crash - are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 to keep the line to Cessnock Police Station clear for concerned family members.

Originally published as ‘My heart’: The wedding at the centre of Hunter Valley bus tragedy