STORM BLOWS AWAY WEDDING MARQUEE
Couple forced to find new reception venue hours before tying knot
A FTER weeks of glorious sunshine Dan Stevens and his bride-to-be Kate Sharples were looking forward to tying the knot on a Welsh seafront.
The marquee had been set up with tables and chairs for all of the guests to celebrate the couple’s big day at their reception.
But, just hours before the wedding in Aberdovey yesterday, the 2018 heatwave was blown away by a storm – and the wedding venue crashed down with it.
While it threatened to ruin the celebrations, people in the area, along with family and friends of the couple – who live in the village in Snowdonia – worked tirelessly to replicate the reception at the village hall and so their big day was saved.
Des George, chairman of Neuadd Dyfi village hall, revealed Dan and his two brothers, Matt and Dean, who were ushers, had been worried about the marquee withstanding the storm the night before the wedding and they decided to sleep inside it so they could secure it if necessary.
During the early hours a big gust of wind blew it over and it was beyond saving.
“I got a call around 7am to ask if they could move everything to the village hall so I said ‘yes’,” Des told Wales on Sunday.
“A team of around 60 or 70 people got together – family, friends and people from the village – and transformed the village hall. They had to move everything.”
The furniture had been borrowed from the hall to use in the wedding marquee, so it had to be transported back to the venue. They also had to wash and dry the tablecloths and chair covers ready for the reception.
Within hours the village hall was perfect for the occasion and the guests gathered there to witness the happy couple – who both work for r the Outward Bound Trust and are e members of the lifeboat crew – exchange their vows and celebrate in n style with them.
Speaking just after the ceremony, 34-year-old Dan said he and his new w wife, who is 32, were so grateful for r the help they’d received.
“People were amazing and I found d it hard to say ‘thank you’ during my y speech due to the emotion,” he said. “We were always confident the wedding would go ahead but we wondered where, when and how.
“We are having an amazing day y and we are now enjoying the sunshine, which has been out most of f the day,” said Dan, who is now hoping for more sunshine when they y honeymoon in Brazil.
Community Facebook group Love Tywyn posted photos of the devastated marquee on the seafront but updated followers to let them know the day was saved.
The post read: “Our hearts go out to the couple who are getting married today in Aberdovey, after the high winds did this to a perfect set-up.
“The people grouped together and moved everything to the Neuadd Dyfi. Community spirit is amazing and we wish you all a great day, thank you all for supporting this special couple x.”