Wild backdrop for wedding day

“We must have the extremist of luck now,” joked Justin on Monday before heading off for his honeymoon to South Stradbroke Island.

Justin and Sheree (pictured above in the photo courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography) were married on Sunday afternoon at the Tanks in Forster.  

Celebrant Sarah Julian had just completed the hand fasting ceremony.  This is an Irish tradition where the hands of the bride and groom are tied together by a number of symbolic cords.

Justin was facing the water so he noticed the “mini tornado” before his soon-to-be wife.  It was the celebrant who made the call to cancel the ceremony.

“We all got ready to run.  It just came in so quickly,” Justin explained.

He and his two groomsmen got soaked as they helped pack up the equipment but Sheree made it back to the cars in time with a dry dress, ready to complete their vows at the bowling club.

For a man who spent many years working at sea he described the storm as a “freak occurance” and for some guests it was a frightening experience.

“My grandmother has dementia and when she saw everybody run it was pretty scary for her.”