Geelong couples marry before snap five-day COVID-19 lockdown

Many couples across Geelong are enjoying the bliss of being newlyweds this week after a “mega-night” of lockdown-beating weddings on Friday. Here are some who made the dash.

It was the “mega-night” of weddings on Friday, with multiple brides and grooms across Geelong rushing to walk down the aisle before being thrown in to the five-day lockdown.

Having already replanned their weddings multiple times during 2020 due to COVID-19, couples were once again left devastated following the sudden announcement of another lockdown.

Michael Grozdanovski and Julia Garvey were married on Friday at RACV Torquay to avoid lockdown restrictions. Picture: Jake Hogan Photography

Tess and Alex Everett were married on Friday to avoid lockdown restrictions. Picture: Anita Jenkins

Five celebrants from Geelong Celebrant Collective conducted seven weddings on Friday to beat the midnight lockdown – some within four hours and most having to travel to the venues.

GCC co-director Nicole Penning received a cry for help from a celebrant colleague in Yarrawonga who had an emergency call to marry a couple in Jan Jac prior to midnight.

With the colleague already booked to marry a couple in Albury, Mrs Penning came to the rescue and conducted the wedding at 5.30pm.

Mrs Penning said it felt like she was on a “torturous TV game show like the celebrant’s

version of the Amazing Race”.

Geelong celebrants from left Jessie Walsdorf, Chloe Jetson, Laura Leddin, Sue Warner, Di Schmidtke, Anita Jenkins, and Nicole Penning. Picture: Stefani Driscoll Photography

“It was calm chaos – but we did it,” Ms Penning said.

“I can’t imagine how many couples got married under these circumstances on the 12th February 2021, but let history remind us that this will unfortunately be known as the most popular date to get married in Victoria in 2021.”

Shaun Brown and Jessica Dunstan were married on Friday to avoid lockdown restrictions. Picture: Jake Hogan Photography

Amy Thomas and James Doof were married at the The Warehouse Geelong on Friday. Picture: Amy Lee Carlon Photography

Celebrant Sue Warner also conducted two weddings on Friday, which were initially scheduled for Saturday, with only a few hours’ notice.

Meanwhile, Tess and Alex Everett, who were meant to wed on Valentine’s Day at Barwon Heads also got married on Friday after celebrant Anita Jenkins offered to move it forward.

Toby and Taylor Lawson were married on Friday to avoid lockdown restrictions. Picture: Supplied

“I texted Tess and said it was probably all too hard with two small children but would they like to get married tonight? She jumped at the idea straight away,” Ms Jenkins said.

She said the happy bride texted her the next day to say it was “perfect and they wouldn’t have changed a thing”.

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Originally published as Geelong couples marry before snap five-day COVID-19 lockdown