Pilbara kindness saves wedding from wild weather

Strong wind was not going to stop Ellen and Nick Grochowski from tying the knot recently in what ended as a perfect Pilbara wedding.

Mr and Mrs Grochowski had been posting on social media in the weeks leading up to the wedding in an effort to find enough boats to take themselves and guests out to Malus Island for the ceremony.

However, the weather gods were not kind and after both back-up plans — East Lewis and Sam’s Island — proved too difficult because of worse than expected winds, a snap decision was made to stay on dry land.

Mrs Grochowski said they decided to cancel the boats and were faced with trying to find a new location on land that would be sheltered and accessible for guests.

“As you can imagine, this was very stressful for a bride. But what happened was amazing, ” she said.

“The friends who were going to set up the island wedding rallied together and set everything else up at a random beach on the Burrup. “One of my bridesmaids had to drive out there in her dressing gown with full hair and make-up done, to show them where to go.”

Mrs Grochowski said she rang Red Dog Taxis to organise maxi taxis for the guests to drive them from Dampier to the starting point of the four-wheel-drive track.

From there, friends organised five four-wheel-drives to convoy guests to the new beach.

Mrs Grochowski said despite the quick location change, the wedding was “absolutely beautiful”.

“All of my out-of-town guests couldn’t believe how generous, supportive and helpful all our Pilbara friends were, ” she said.

“They loved the four-wheel-driving element and everyone had a great time.

“Without our amazing friends, our wedding would have been cancelled.”

Mrs Grochowski said her wedding would be remembered as another one of those great “only in the Pilbara” moments.