Benalla businesses make wedding day special for parents of groom

By Simon Ruppert

Jun 22, 2021

When a Benalla couple could not travel to their sons wedding because of COVID-19 restrictions, the parents of the bride wanted to do what they could to help.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Mother of the bride Chris Noel asked that we print her story to day a big thank you to all who helped out.

This is that story.

Every family has a COVID-19 story to tell and this one is about the impact that COVID-19 has had on the plans and attempts of our daughter and her fiance to wed.

This wedding was to have taken place in Sydney in June 2020 where most of their family live.

Unfortunately theirs, like thousands of others, was cancelled as the COVID pandemic took our country in its grip.

Fast forward a year later and the wedding was, once again, scheduled for the June long weekend.

Happily, the bride and groom were able to leave Victoria much earlier than they had originally planned as they sensed another "lockdown" looming.

Many of their guests were not able to leave as early, including the groom’s own family who now reside in Benalla.

While they were relieved the bridal couple had managed to arrive in NSW in time, it was tense times as we all anxiously watched the news for any updates or signs that the Victorian contingency might be able to cross over into NSW in time for the big day.

We maintained hope until the last possible moment, but when it became evident that no amount of hoping was going to change the situation, were started to look at how we could acknowledge and support the groom’s family.

We wanted something special for them to share on the day while they were in our hearts and minds at the wedding.

This is how we came across two wonderful local businesses who helped us to make that happen.

I contacted some local restaurants to see about arranging delivery of a special dinner for the family to enjoy while the reception was taking place in Sydney.

One of these places was the Rustic Cafe in Bridge St. I spoke first to Jodie and then to Jess.

When I told them of the situation, they went out of their way to help, even sending me some photos of the desert options for the family to choose from.

They were happy to take the order, but were unable to deliver the food themselves, on that particular day, so when I suggested that I might try the local taxi company they gave me the number and insisted on me confirming that arrangement with the taxi company before they would take my money.

I then contacted Shannon at the Benalla Taxi Company and explained the situation, as I, the frantic mother of the bride, was being driven around Sydney in my own taxi organising the drop off of bridal gear, luggage and other wedding accoutrements at the same time.

Shannon not only organised the time for the food to be picked up from the Rustik Cafe then dropped off to the groom’s family, she also declined to take payment for the trip when I asked her the arrangements for payment of the job.

She covered that herself as a gift to the mother of the bride and the mother of the groom.

Uncharacteristically of me, I was lost for words for a moment at such kindness and sensitivity.

I can honestly say that I cannot envisage any such businesses in Sydney being as empathetic, helpful or responsive to our needs as the Rustik Cafe and the Benalla Taxi Company and I wanted to take the opportunity to publicly acknowledge and thank both business.

Their responses and kindness made a difference for the bride and groom and the groom’s family on this bittersweet day so once again, a heartfelt thanks from us in Sydney.

- Chris Noel