Brisbane couple fast-tracks wedding to beat 4pm lockdown

A Brisbane couple who thought southeast Queensland’s snap lockdown was going to ruin their big day have tied the knot in heart-stopping scenes after managing to fast-track their wedding and get one over the Covid-19 pandemic.

As far as wedding days go, Saturday will be one to remember for newlyweds Bree and Rayner Pukeroa.

The Everton Hills couple were with their bridal parties getting ready to tie the knot when they got the devastating news that Brisbane was headed for a three-day lockdown.

“Bree rang me in tears and it was the last thing I was expecting,” Rayner said.

“I thought maybe it was her hair or makeup, but for it to be something like that was gut wrenching.”

Determined to still get hitched, Bree quickly phoned their venue Riverlife at Kangaroo Point who “were amazing” and rallied all of the vendors to bring the wedding forward to 1.30pm from the original time of 3pm.

“We were very grateful for our vendors for scrambling together to make our day as special as it could be. That takes a lot of work,” Bree said.

Bree Dobbins and Rayner Pukeroa from Brisbane had to bring their wedding forward and be married before today's 4pm lockdown began. Picture David Clark

The couple could only celebrate for 10 minutes with friends and family before racing home to beat the lockdown and share some wedding cake and champagne together.

“Obviously we’re thankful we could still go ahead with getting married but obviously still a bit sad,” Bree said.

Despite the Covid curveball, the couple say they are both “still smiling” and their wedding day would be a story they will “tell for the rest of our lives”.

“Getting to marry your best friend – it’s pretty much as good as it gets,” Rayner said.

The couple were due to fly out to Hobart on Monday for their honeymoon but have postponed the trip along with their reception and hope to celebrate with friends and family soon.

Marriage celebrant Krista Webb said it was incredible to see everybody pulling together to get the pair hitched.

“It’s amazing what your vendors can do for you when it all hits the fan,” she said.

Ms Webb who runs Celebrated Moments said she had 42 weddings postponed last year due to the pandemic, but she like other businesses were getting good at rolling with the punches.

“Flexibility and pivoting is the key,” she said.