Postponing our wedding was a blessing in disguise

The pandemic forced this Brisbane couple to postpone their wedding, but the delay meant one very special person could play a key role in their rescheduled nuptials.

For this couple, delaying their wedding due to Covid had one lovely upside. The extra six months meant their almost two-year-old son Henry was old enough to walk down the aisle.

“On our original wedding date he would not have been able to do this,” bride Sarah Jones said.

Sarah and Samuel Brown met three years ago and had both their son Henry and Sam’s daughter Abigail, 4, at their wedding.

Wedding of Sarah Jones and Samuel Brown. Picture: Cloud Catcher

“We are fortunately a dating app success story, on Bumble,” Sarah said.

The Toowong couple were due to marry on October 3 last year at Old Government House, but made the decision early last year to postpone when the pandemic was declared.

They made the decision to reschedule to April 25 this year, and chose to move the wedding to The Calile.

A total of 85 guests attended, although some international and interstate guests were unable to travel to the nuptials.

The couple danced their first dance to You And Me by Lifehouse, and honeymooned in Noosa.

Wedding of Sarah Jones and Samuel Brown. Picture: Cloud Catcher

How did he propose?

We were in Tasmania for our babymoon and Sam had surprised me with upgrading our room to one of the amazing Coastal Pavilion rooms at Freycinet Lodge.

He told me we were going out for dinner, and we were in the main reception, then he said he forgot something so we had to go back to the room where he had organised a private dinner. By this point I knew something may have been up and then he popped the question!

Original wedding plans?

Our original wedding date was October 3, last year.

Our ceremony was meant to be at Old Government House and the reception at Howard Smith Wharves.

Wedding of Sarah Jones and Samuel Brown. Picture: Cloud Catcher

When did you decide to change plans?

We decided to postpone in early April.

Emotions around changing plans?

We were obviously disappointed but knew there were thousands of people in our position and that our day would come when the time was right.

We were lucky to have a few friends in the same position as us, so sharing the experience helped.

Updated wedding plans?

We had to find a new venue due to the capacity of both of the venues we had originally booked and liked the idea of having it all in the one place which is when we went to look at The Calile.

Wedding of Sarah Jones and Samuel Brown. Picture: Cloud Catcher

What helped you get through the stress of changing plans?

Knowing that at the end of the day we would get married.

The bonus of postponing was Henry being able to walk down the aisle with Abigail. On our original wedding date he would not have been able to do this.

Standout moment of the day?

Sam: Seeing Sarah in her dress come around the corner and start walking down the aisle.

Sarah: Seeing Sam at the altar, having our children walk down the aisle and having all our friends and family finally together to celebrate our wedding.

What would you do differently?

We wouldn’t do anything differently – it truly was everything we wanted and more!

Wedding of Sarah Jones and Samuel Brown. Picture: Cloud Catcher

What would you spend more or less on?

Again nothing, we spent more money on the things that we considered important and would leave a lasting memory on us and our guests.

One thing you wish people told you about planning a wedding?

Sit on your ideas for a while. I think when I first started out I just booked things straight away to make sure I was on top of things but luckily one upside to postponing our wedding was I had time to really think about what was important for us to have on the day.

Advice for other couples whose weddings are impacted by coronavirus?

Try not to stress too much about the uncertainty of your wedding not happening. Enjoy every step along the way, it really does go by so fast.

And however it happens, even if it’s not what you originally had planned, it will be the best day.

Wedding of Sarah Jones and Samuel Brown. Picture: Cloud Catcher

Hen’s night?

A staycation with my bridesmaids followed by a long lunch at Southside Restaurant with all my girlfriends, and drinks and dancing into the night.

Buck’s night?

Long lunch at Walter’s Steakhouse followed by a small pub crawl.

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