GC couple’s ‘fairytale’ wedding in TC Alfred’s aftermath

After rescheduling five times, a couple finally had their perfect wedding – but not without more drama.

Elizabeth Brosnan and Sam Bennett were married on Monday during the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Picture: Supplied

In the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, one Gold Coast couple decided to go ahead with their dream wedding after it had been rescheduled five times.

Elizabeth Brosnan and Sam Bennett have been engaged since 2021, and had previously postponed their wedding day twice, once in 2022 and again in late 2024.

Everything had been smooth sailing for their newly instated wedding date, rescheduled for Friday, March 7, until Ms Brosnan took a look at the week’s weather forecast.

Elizabeth Brosnan and Sam Bennett with their son Noah, 4. Picture: Supplied

“The week before, the forecast said it was raining so we just thought rain is good luck on your wedding day,” she said.

“Then it turned out to be a little bit more than rain, it was actually a cyclone.

“Our wedding planner called us on the Wednesday and said, ‘Everything’s starting to shut down. Everything seems to be getting a bit more serious than we thought it would be’.

“Friday turned into Sunday, and then we got a call again on Saturday because it was still raining and the winds were just too much.

“We ended up just booking it in for Monday. By this time, it was my third time rescheduling, the fifth time overall.

“We just said, if it’s got to be Monday, we’ll just have to get through it.”

The couple were married on Monday during the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Picture: Supplied

Ms Brosnan explained that there were a number of hurdles leading up to the ceremony, including trying to find a place with electricity so she could get ready for the big day.

“The hotel where I was supposed to get ready didn’t have power. We didn’t have power at our house in Labrador and then my parents didn’t have power. Sam’s grandma didn’t have power, so we were kind of running out of options,” she explained.

“But my bridesmaid and her family very generously offered to let me get ready at their house.

“We had a couple of bridesmaids and a groomsman that got flooded in, one of my bridesmaids was coming from Toowoomba, so she obviously couldn’t make it.

“Other than that, everyone kind of just pulled together and just hoped for the best. It turned out really beautiful.”

In the end, the pair’s ceremony at Evergreen Garden, a wedding venue in Parkwood, turned out to be a “fairytale” celebrating with their four-year-old son Noah and their family and friends.

Elizabeth Brosnan and Sam Bennett were married on Monday during the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Picture: Supplied

“We just knew this would be a story to tell and probably laugh about it in a couple of years,” she said.

“At the time it was very stressful but we knew that it was a story that we were going to remember. It was a beautiful day in the end, it really looked like a fairytale.”

To top off the day, the couple found out power had been restored to their Labrador home during their reception.

“Our next-door neighbour messaged us and she was like, I know you’re at your wedding, but we got power back. So that’s lovely,” Ms Brosnan said.

“We ended up staying at the Mantra for the night anyway, and then we just went back the next morning and just did a bit of a clean-up and made sure everything was still intact. But yeah, it all worked out really well.”

Originally published as GC couple’s ‘fairytale’ wedding in TC Alfred’s aftermath