They were supposed to get married today. Instead, Dunedin couple Michaela Sainsbury and Maxi Baldiano will be at home with their two children.Covid-19 has put paid to their plans.
They were forced to cancel their wedding three days out, as the global pandemic transformed the way the world travelled.
Ms Sainsbury said they made their difficult decision on Tuesday night after realising borders around the world were closing.
‘‘We could see the situation was only getting worse.
‘‘Maxi had family and friends travelling from the United States and Argentina who could no longer come.
‘‘We had people travelling from all over New Zealand.
‘‘It was all kind of going downhill so we decided to cancel.’’
The decision was ‘‘gutting’’.
‘‘I can’t quite believe it.’’
Mr Baldiano’s mother had travelled from Argentina for the wedding and was unable to leave until at least June.
‘‘We don’t know what she is going to do,’’ he said.
They spent four months planning the wedding.
‘‘We were going to have the wedding outside at Michaela’s aunty’s house near Tunnel Beach, and were over there every day working on clearing the space and cleaning,’’ Mr Baldiano said.
‘‘It’s very sad.’’
Food, buses, a photographer and an after-party at Vault 21 had to be cancelled.
‘‘It’s disappointing.’’
Ms Sainsbury said no plans had been made to reschedule the wedding.
‘‘It’s all up in the air at this stage.’’
