Making the best of a bad situation is a trait many Australians pride themselves on. So when it came time to adapt to a rapidly-approaching wedding date in isolation, Dubbo's Jason and Mel Dearmer had to think on their feet.
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May 2, 2020 was to be the 'wedding' date for the couple, who are already legally married but had always wanted to do a 'fancy one' for friends and family.
With coronavirus restrictions in place, their idea of a 'fancy' day wasn't possible, but Mr and Mrs Dearmer still wanted to still mark the day anyway so they got all dressed up for each other and did an impromptu photoshoot. Even in isolation you can't stop love.
"When we got engaged we always intended to elope and then have the wedding 'celebration'. We had family and friends coming in from WA, QLD and SA so once the restrictions starting happening, we cancelled," Mrs Dearmer said.
"[We] decided last week we should still mark the day, so [we] put our outfits on and had a candlelight dinner at home.
"We've been pretty overwhelmed with how lovely everyone has been, right throughout our relationship - watching it via Facebook updates that for some reason most people never tire of - but it seems to make people smile.
"I guess more than ever before, people need something to look forward to and smile about so I guess we might still have something when we can."
Mrs Dearmer said they weren't sure if they will have yet another event once things settle down and people can start to gather again but she said it's likely, given Mr Dearmer's affinity for family.
"Jason has always said that he wants a family get together that isn't a funeral - because that's how you often get whole families together in this day and age. Having lost both my parents, he sees the family we have as even more important, and before Dad died he told him he was planning to marry me."
The pair met thanks to a matchmaker on the Orana Relay for Life committee in 2016.
Mrs Dearmer said she found herself "stalking him on Facebook" after "falling in love with his smile", a fact Mr Dearmer didn't learn until one year into the relationship.
Eventually, and after a health scare, Mrs Dearmer took matters into her own hands and asked him out.
Fast forward to July 2019, Jason finally popped the question and by September they were married.
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