Come hell or high water, nothing was going to stop bride Marian Jenner from tying the knot on her big day. The 37-year-old from Auckland, who lives in London, refused to let one of the worst floods in English history sink her dream wedding to Derek Holliday, even if it meant braving deep water and wearing gumboots under her gown.
Two days before their November nuptials, Marian and Derek (43) had no idea what nature had in store for their big day. With family and friends, they travelled to Ullswater, Derek’s hometown in the Lake District, where they planned to get married outdoors beside a beautiful lake. “It was raining when we arrived and we were told it was getting bad,” says Marian. “But the area is used to localised flooding and the forecast said it would clear up, so I didn’t think much of it. I honestly thought the rainwater would drain away.”
Maybe Marian was simply too used to New Zealand’s regular subtropical downfalls because that day was the wettest known in England since records began. More than 30cm of rain fell in 24 hours, causing mayhem and misery. The weather was so bad that a local police officer tragically lost his life.
All the roads to Marian’s wedding venue were closed due to 1.8m-deep flooding. The 75 wedding guests, many from New Zealand, couldn’t even reach the village. They had to turn back and try to find alternative accommodation, while hoping the floodwater would subside in time.
Meanwhile, Marian, who met Derek three years earlier when they worked together on environmental projects for a UK government department, had decided the best option was to find another, less waterlogged, place to get married. “But the terms of the marriage license were that we had to get married at the venue that was on the licence or not at all,” recalls Marian. “I thought, ‘Right, that’s it. The wedding’s off.’ It was terrible.”
Marian was resigned to being a bride another day and had decided to have a party with the guests instead. But Derek resolved to brave the elements and make sure the wedding went ahead as planned. First, however, he had to find a way to get himself and his bride through the flooded streets to the lake.
“Early on the morning of what was supposed to be our wedding day, Derek got up and took a four-wheel drive for a trial run through the floods to the venue,” says Marian. “I was getting my hair and makeup done for the party and that’s when I got a call. He said they’d been able to get there and back, and I was to meet him as close to the place as I could.”
The local florist loaned Marian her four-wheel-drive car and she quickly put on her gown – with a pair of sturdy gumboots underneath. The best man, bridesmaid, registrar and photographer all piled into the car and made a mad dash to meet Derek, fearing the weather could drown their hopes at any moment. The two parties met up and made their way carefully to the lakeside. “Although it was a scary drive through flooded roads, I was just so happy to be getting married,”
Marian says. Several times, the vehicles were floating in the swirling water. But they eventually reached their chosen location. “We all jumped out, had a quick ceremony by the lake and that was it – we were married!” smiles Marian. Despite her gumboots, and the fact Derek hadn’t been able to get changed into his wedding suit so had to take his vows in blue jeans, Marian was ecstatic.
“After everything we had been through to get married, we were finally husband and wife,” she says. As the groom kissed his bride, heavy rain started to fall again, which meant the wedding party had to jump back into the cars and make the diffi cult journey back through the fl ooded streets to enjoy the reception with their guests.
Even though it was a happy day for the couple, Marian says she and Derek were conscious of the fl ood’s tragic aspects. “I had to remember to keep it all in perspective. While we may have thought we were experiencing a disaster, other families were having much more serious problems,” she explains. “oany homes were flooded and someone died.”
Back at the local inn, Derek donned his suit, Marian ditched the gumboots and the newlyweds were finally able to relax. Despite not having the dream wedding they’d planned, Marian says she’s glad it all worked out in the end. “It would have been nice to have the beautiful wedding we wanted but, in the end, it didn’t matter. “We got married and were able to celebrate afterwards. I’m so proud of my husband for making it all work.”
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