Stephanie Forde had always dreamed of a country wedding in Australia.
Photo: 123rf
Her mum and step-father had been working feverishly to get their property at Tambo Upper, in East Gippsland, prepared to host the event and it was looking "gorgeous", the bride-to-be declared.
Amid one of Victoria's worst bushfire crises, it became clear that Forde and her fiance Chris were unlikely to get their dream wedding before returning home to the UK.
The flower farm supplying the bouquets had burnt down, the caterer had to stay behind to defend their own home from flames and road blocks prevented guests from getting to the family property.
"It wasn't just about our guests getting there, it was also about their safety," Ms Forde said.
"Obviously with everything that's going on it was so dangerous, we didn't want to put the stress on emergency services."
Just as has happened countless times across Australia in recent weeks, the community came together and managed to pull off the ultimate "Plan B" wedding.
"We've just seen this community rally around us and give us so much support ... it has just been overwhelming," Ms Forde said.
"In this time when there's so much uncertainty ... there's just an abundance of kindness.
"I'm still smiling about it."
Judith and Jonathan Wood offered up their waterfront property in Paynesville and also helped feed the 22 guests.
While the caterer had to cancel, they had already prepared and packaged up most of the food, so together with neighbours the Woods worked out how to put it together, heating it up in their kitchen.
The local rotary club erected the marquee and bouquets were donated by a florist.
Strong winds and smoke seemed set to mar most of the day, but the weather calmed down just in time to say "I do".
"It was such a disaster to such a joyous occasion," Wood said.
"There was someone up there looking out for them.
"It just ran like clockwork."
Wedding planner Adele Charlwood had a sleepless night before the wedding as her town of Bairnsdale was threatened by fire.
"When things like this happen, we're quite good, people do pull together," she said.
"In times like these you do feel very helpless and you don't know how to help the community.
"But doing a wedding like this does take a little bit away from what's happening and puts a little bit more of a happy time."
All the glassware and chairs bought for the wedding will now be donated to a relief centre.
Celebrant Gina Brakey said during Saturday's ceremony it was still unclear whether the property at Tambo Upper had survived the fires, but even amid the uncertainty everything stopped the moment the bride appeared.
"As I saw her walking out, all I could see was her smile," Brakey said.
"She just wanted to marry Chris."
The family's house was still standing, and although the bushfires are expected to continue burning for weeks, at least now they have some new happy memories.
"It's not the wedding we planned, it's not the wedding we envisioned, but we think it's something better," Ms Forde said.
"It was just a piece of joy in everyone's tragedy."
- ABC
