Covid forces Gympie couple to wait year for first dance

Gympie couple Phillip and Mikaela Sima were officially married on June 20, 2020 amid the height of coronavirus restrictions, and finally got the opportunity to have their first dance as husband and wife exactly a year later on their first wedding anniversary.

Phillip and Mikaela Sima were finally given the opportunity to have their first dance as a married couple surrounded by friends and family, exactly one year after they were married amid the height of coronavirus restrictions. Photo: EeVee Photography

Phillip and Mikaela Sima may have been able to say “I do” during the height of the Covid crisis last year, but there was one tradition they could not do: the first dance.

One year later they have finally been able to achieve that dream, sharing the dance floor together on their first wedding anniversary.

The Gympie Times covered Mr and Mrs Sima’s wedding more than a year ago in 2020, after the community rallied together to deliver their dream wedding during the height of coronavirus restrictions.

Despite their best efforts the happy couple were not allowed to have the reception they wanted, wincluding their first dance as a couple.

Now, exactly one year after their wedding ceremony on June 20, they were finally given that opportunity surrounded by about 80 friends and family.

Mrs Simas said her first dance with her husband felt special and stress-free, especially with the presence of all their family and friends who could not attend the ceremony due to restrictions.

“For Phil and I it’s been a year of us married, so it was a real celebration and all the nerves were gone...and we got to really enjoy it a lot more,” she said.

She said her first dance with her husband was to a song called Known by christian pop-rock singer, Tauren Wells.

The reception was held at the Chatsworth Hall, which was where she and her husband had planned for their original reception to be held.

“Last year we didn’t have a sit-down dinner or any kind of formal dancing or speeches...it was more like a barbecue type vibe in the garden,” she said.

Mr and Mrs Sima were officially married at Mrs Sima’s family farm in the Mary Valley on June 20, 2020.

Originally published as Covid forces Gympie couple to wait year for first dance