Couple cancels wedding three times because of Covid-19

It’s a case of fourth time lucky for a Sydney couple determined to have their dream wedding despite pushing back their big day multiple times during the pandemic.

One pandemic, two years and three variants later, Isabella Pagano and Matt Thomas have cancelled their big day three times but they are determined to have the wedding of their dreams despite Covid lingering.

When the Crows Nest pair got engaged in September 2019, they were supposed to have a relatively brief engagement but the pandemic put a stop to them saying “I do” at the Grounds of Alexandria in October 2020.

They pushed the nuptials back to March and November last year but with many of their 230 guests coming from interstate and unable to fly, they delayed the big event yet again.

Now after the last two years of challenges, they are crossing their fingers everything goes to plan on March 31.

Despite the disruption, the patient pair wouldn’t have it any other way.

A wedding with all the trimmings is non-negotiable.

Mr Thomas, 31, has several relatives scattered across Australia and Ms Pagano, who many know as the co-owner of her family business, Entrata restaurant at Glenhaven, wanted a big family gathering with dancing and singing.

Isabella Pagano and Matt Thomas pushed back their wedding three times because of Covid.

Under NSW restrictions rolled out on January 8, dancing and signing is banned in hospitality venues until January 27, but weddings are exempt, much to Ms Pagano’s relief.

“We love a dance so we were adamant on the dancing and the standing and the drinking,’’ she said.

“Obviously because I’ve got a hospo background I know how difficult it is for guests to be seated and you feel like you’re bugging them so that was a big thing for us.

“People just say ‘Why don’t you guys elope’ or ‘Why don’t you just go get married at the registry’ and that’s not what we want.

Entrata co-owner Isabella Pagano understands the demands of hospitality and the impact the pandemic has had on guests. Picture: Adam Yip

“People can make a comment on it but it’s easier said than done when people aren’t in that situation. And the whole day of the wedding it's the whole atmosphere — you get ready with your bridal party and your dad walks you down the aisle and there’s a whole atmosphere and something about a wedding day. We wanted that whole vibe, we wanted a day to remember.’’

Fortunately, with payments turning into credit, the couple lost over $500 on invitation reprints and had to rebook a musician three times but most plans were salvaged.

Entrata has had to adapt to the virus but Isabella Pagano and Matt Thomas won’t budge when it comes to altering plans for their wedding day. Picture: Monique Harmer

“Any deposits we have paid have been moved to the new date,’’ Ms Pagano, 29, said.

But she is putting her guests, including 30 who have already had Covid, on standby.

“About a week before the wedding I’m putting everyone who’s really important pretty much on lockdown and saying ‘don’t go out on the weekends and just to try and avoid things’.

While they are not entertaining another postponement, if it means continuing with a dream wedding, the couple will gladly delay their event for the fourth time.

“If we were in a situation where there was a lockdown, we would just continue to postpone — I know it’s headache but we would just do that because you dream about what your wedding day’s going to be like, especially when you get engaged and you pick the venue,’’ Ms Pagano said. And we want it to be like that.’’

The couple remains upbeat about fulfilling their dream wedding.

Pink Caviar Events director Stephanie Cassimatis said her Hills- and city-based business lost on 12 to 18 months’ worth of weddings, while corporate events also took a massive hit with interstate travel stalled during the Covid shutdown.

“The whole pandemic has just been hell on the business side,’’ she said.

Pink Caviar Events director Stephanie Cassimatis event producer and stylist. Picture: Janella Keys

“We were doing weddings practically every weekend. We’re lucky to be doing one a month at the moment. It’s really dialled back.’’

Her number of employees plunged from 21 staff to five after Covid started running rampant and “something that’s not going to go away overnight”.

While that translated into refunds for some clients, others chose to scale back their initial plans and host low-key weddings with smaller budgets. Others stuck with the big wedding, pre-Covid style.

“The only advice I can offer clients is that we want to work with them’’ Mrs Cassimatis said.

“We also want to work with our network of suppliers because we know it’s a difficult time.’’

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Originally published as Couple cancels wedding three times because of Covid-19