Wedding wish comes true for terminally ill bride Joanne Colman

A terminally ill southeast Queensland bride whose wedding wish was granted repaid the generosity in the best possible way thanks to a bridal party with a difference.

Friends of terminally-ill bride Joanne Colman, centre, donned their bridal gowns for a beach party with a difference.

A BRIDAL party with a difference brought beachgoers at the Gold Coast to a halt last weekend.

● LOGAN INVENTOR’S SHOE COLLECTION

Amateur photographers filmed in amazement as terminally-ill Joanne Colman, dressed in her wedding gown, led 35 of her best friends and bridesmaids into the water at Main Beach.

The beach party was a dream come true for the 22-year-old Logan Village bride who had her ideal wedding to Joshua Colman in November, knowing she only had months to live.

After the wedding, Mrs Colman wanted to give back to the charity that made her big day a reality and decided to hold a beach splash party and charge onlookers for photographs.

The happy couple Joshua and Joanne Colman on their wedding day in November at Logan Village.

Passerby and art collector Elizabeth Rae said she was stunned to watch the elegant crowd walk into the water and then sit down in the waves while they had their photos taken — all to raise money for a charity called My Wedding Day.

“There are often wedding parties at The Spit but this caught my eye because when they got to the water’s edge they just kept going,” Mrs Rae said.

“I went and asked them what the occasion was and was told the bride had a terminal illness and was raising funds for a charity she supported.

“She looked so happy and beautiful.

“It must have been something she really wanted to do as she had her leg in a cast, which did not deter her from sitting in the water.”

Mrs Rae, an art dealer who once promoted Pro Hart and the Australian painter Arthur Boyd said she was so taken with the party she donated a $3000 Michael Salmon painting of Paddington Bear.

A painting by Michael Salmon who designed Alexander The Bunyip, was donated to the couple to auction.

The painting is from the era when Salmon had his own children’s TV show Alexander’s Antics starring the cartoon character Alexander Bunyip.

Mrs Rae said it could be raffled so Mrs Colman could tick off other items on her bucket list.

Elizabeth Rae and mother of the bride Helen Gladigau with the Michael Salmon painting of Paddinton Bear.

Mother of the bride Helen Gladigau said the beach splash was a happy occasion and a way of giving back to those who had helped her daughter fight a bitter battle with an aggressive cancer eating her face.

“Although the cancer is not rare, Joanne has had to have half of her face removed and one eye,” Mrs Gladigau said.

“But she was wanted to repay the kindness shown to her by friends when she married in November.”

Joanne and Joshua were able to have a wedding party for 170 family and friends at their family home in Logan Village thanks to donations from charity organisation My Wedding Wish, which helps terminally ill women have the wedding of their dreams.

After the wedding day at Logan Village, terminally-ill Joanne Colman wanted to give back to the charity which helped her and decided to have a fundraising photo session on Main Beach.

After her big day, Mrs Colman wanted to repay the Sunshine Coast-based charity and decided on the fund-raising bridal party at the beach.

“She had a bucket list which was pretty simple,” Mrs Gladigau said.

“She didn’t want to go to the snow or Paris - she just wanted to have quality time with her family and friends and continue to give back to people who have helped her.

“So her wedding was brilliant and after it was over Joanne wanted to repay the generosity.”