Sleuthing wedding photographer saves big day

A Geelong wedding photographer was forced to take on a different role, when he worked around the clock to track down lost wedding rings.

Caleb and Micaela were married, with the rings, after they were found. Picture: The Couples Photographer / Nick Watson

A Geelong wedding photographer was forced to become a sleuth when a couple’s rings were stolen mid photo shoot just hours before the nuptials were due to take place.

Photographer Nick Watson said the pressure to ensure the day was perfect was especially high because his client was sister Micaela and brother-in-law to be Caleb.

The Sydney-based couple were married at Kirribilli on October 8, but the ceremony almost didn’t happen as planned.

Mr Watson was completing a pre-wedding shoot with the groom and his groomsmen, when they decided to board the train to take memorable shots at St James train station.

Mid train ride, they realised the wedding rings were missing.

“They’d lost the rings,” Mr Watson said.

“Our thoughts were that they were on the train. We’d been at St James station for a little while – so much that two other trains had passed.”

Mr Watson said the three groomsmen went toward Redfern, while he and the groom headed toward Circular Quay to try and speak to transport authorities.

When searches of trains failed to uncover the rings, Mr Watson knew they would be under pressure to find the rings ahead of the early afternoon service.

The rings that nearly didn't make the wedding ceremony. PICTURE: The Couples Photographer/ Nick Watson

Mr Watson and the groom returned to Redfern to try and access CCTV, but soon learned the camera they needed to see footage from had not filmed correctly.

He said authorities eventually found footage that showed a man picking up a brown paper bag containing the rings.

Mr Watson said the bridal party went to enjoy pre-ceremony beers, while he and his father started frantically driving around inner-Sydney to try to get to a central police station.

He said he was getting calls “left, right and centre” from police, when he finally received the call he was waiting for.

“The officer said ‘I’ve currently tracked the person through to Redfern station’,” Mr Watson said.

Police promptly arrested the man, but could not confirm if he had the rings.

Nick Watson – The Couples Photographer. Picture: Supplied

Fearing the worst, Mr Watson and the groom told Micaela who “laughed hysterically”.

“Our back up plan was for my mum and dad to supply their rings of 30 years of marriage, so it was nice to have a back-up plan that was kind of heartfelt,” he said.

Fortunately that plan was not required.

A short time later, police told Mr Watson the rings had been found and he and his father drove to the police station to collect them.

The rings were returned to the groom about 2pm, just before the ceremony.

“I took it upon myself to be the new ring bearer,” Mr Watson said.

“I thought ‘there is no way in hell I’m letting anyone else have these rings’.”

Mr Watson said his relationship with his new brother-in-law nearly got off to a rocky start.

“He was crying a lot and I was so positive, he said later he wanted to punch me in the face,” he said.

NSW Police told the Addy a 37-year-old man was allegedly stopped with the bag containing the rings.

He was arrested and issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for one count of larceny and will appear at Downing Centre Local Court on November 21, 2022.

Originally published as Sleuthing wedding photographer saves big day