‘I felt like crying’: Groom’s floodwater disaster on wedding day

Floods stopped their celebrant, some family and the photographer but a backup plan kicked in for this couple to pull off their dream wedding

Jane Armitstead

@JaneArmitstead

4 min read

May 25, 2022 - 3:00PM

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Katelyn Alexander and Avilash Singh are still shocked how they managed to pull off their miracle wedding in a once-in-a-century flooding event.

The Heritage Park, Logan, couple was faced with endless hurdles threatening to keep them apart on their February 25 wedding day at Preston Peak Winery, just outside Toowoomba, as floodwaters rose.

The groom almost didn’t make it to his own wedding after being stuck at home on the morning of the wedding as floodwaters were fast cutting off roads. The couple’s photographer and celebrant called hours before the ceremony to cancel after they were flooded in. The groom’s family broke down on the highway and missed the ceremony. It was a series of events the couple wasn’t prepared for and, they say, it was a miracle the wedding was just an hour late at 4pm.

Katelyn Alexander and Avilash Singh didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits on their wedding day. Picture: Salt Studios

How did you meet?

Katelyn: Through my sister-in-law seven years ago. She tried her hardest to be Cupid but sadly failed, but we found each other again three years ago. My sister-in-law knew my husband long before I did. He was very close to her stepfather and grew up with her. Avi and I first met at my sister-in-law’s baby shower six years ago, then three years ago out of the blue he messaged me and asked me out for dinner. From there, we went on a few more dates and soon became inseparable.

Katelyn Alexander and Avilash Singh let the rainfall down on their wedding day. Pictures: Salt Studios

Can you describe how events unfolded on the day of your wedding?

Katelyn: I went to Toowoomba the night before the wedding but Avi stayed at home and was driving to Toowoomba on the day because we had his family at home from New Zealand. What ordinarily would have been less than a two-hour drive took him five hours because of the flash flooding and road closures. He only got to Toowoomba because there was one road open which was pretty sketchy to drive through because of flooding. That road closed an hour later.

At 11.30am my celebrant called me and told me that she was flooded in to her property just outside of Toowoomba and that she would contact me at 1.30pm, hoping the rain would ease and that the floodwaters subside. They did not. She called me at 1.30pm and advised me she was unable to make our wedding. Also just after 11.30am my photographer called and advised me she was also unable to get to my wedding because she had been turned around by police because of floodwaters. Then my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law got flooded in a town called Withcott on their way up to Toowoomba and sat in a hardware store until the Toowoomba Range was reopened (the range was intermittently opened and closed throughout the day) and they made it about 12pm. Avi eventually made it to Toowoomba at 2pm. I felt nauseated the entire morning and holding back tears wondering if I would have to postpone my wedding day on my wedding day! (When he arrived) it was like a massive weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Katelyn Alexander and Avilash Singh during their second wedding shoot in the sunshine. Picture: NSI Productions

What emotions were you feeling?

I was so nervous the entire day of our wedding because all I was worried about was that Avi wouldn’t get to Toowoomba. I remember waking up and looking at the rain radar and it was just red. There was so much rain, it was torrential. The rain itself didn’t upset me. Obviously it’s not ideal for a wedding day but I wasn’t going to let that upset me. But the stress of my future husband potentially not being able to get through made me feel sick to my stomach. I honestly have never felt so stressed and anxious in my entire life! I felt like crying. I was determined to not let the week of rain we’d had ruin my day and then waking up to see torrential rain and then all of this unfolding at the same time.

The bridal party for the wedding of Katelyn Alexander and Avilash Singh. Picture: Salt Studios

How did you find a backup celebrant and photographer in time?

My celebrant had already organised a backup plan, just in case she ended up with Covid. No one predicted the 2022 floods would happen! Lucky our backup celebrant was still available and able to get to Preston Peak. Considering she had such short notice and had to redo all the legal paperwork, learn a ceremony someone else had written for two people she’d never even met and then get herself ready, she was amazing. My original photographer and staff from Preston Peak frantically called every photographer under the sun and by luck there was one Toowoomba photographer from Salt Studios who dropped everything for us and came to do not only photographs but also managed to video as well all by himself.

Why did you have a second wedding shoot?

We only have a few photos in the rain because it was so wet. Most of our photos were taken indoors so we planned to have a second shoot in drier weather. I got back into my wedding dress and Avi into his suit. I got my hair and make-up done again and our amazing original photographer took time out to come and take some amazing photos for us.