It was fourth time lucky for Shellharbour couple Melissa Moore and Brad Foye on Wednesday when they were married in the rotunda at Little Park.
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Ms Moore had tried to set a date three times in the past two months. So when NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced last week that weddings could proceed with a maximum of five guests, she and Mr Foye decided to take the opportunity while they could.
Under the new rules the couple were allowed to have two witnesses, celebrant Cari Worstencroft and one person to record the occasion, with a maximum of 11 altogether.
Debbie Henderson photographed the wedding for Ms Moore, who had hoped for a perfect spring day. She got her wish and having her youngest daughter Alana, 5, as the flower girl made the occasion extra special.
Ms Moore had been married to Geoffrey Moore for 14 years before he died of cancer more than a year ago. She looked to the future and, after months of grieving, threw her heart into a long-held passion.
"I started a community church in my local area, feeding people on a Saturday night, and giving the lonely to have a place to come," she said.
"It's called A Place to Belong. I wanted to help people make connections."
After Mr Foye started attending and helping at Albion Park Community Church, the two fell in love.
Their love grew and earlier this year they started planning a life together, with the pair ready and waiting to get married for the past two months.
However, two days before they were due to fly to Brisbane in late June, Queensland closed its borders.
"We thought it would only be for a week or so and we moved everything to the 15th of August," she said.
"But then we realised very quickly no one was going anywhere any time soon."
Next, they tried for a Jamberoo wedding at the end of August, but the whole state went into lockdown and they couldn't proceed. Then Mr Hazzard made last week's announcement and the bride and groom wasted no time setting a new date.
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