Canterbury earthquake can't stop wedding

Love prevails after Christchurch quake

Relevant offers

Nothing was getting in the way of a Christchurch couple's big day yesterday, not even a 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

In fact bride and groom, Nina, 22 and Roderick Smith, 25 made the most of the quake's destruction using the rubble as artistic backdrop for their wedding photos, marking the day their love made the earth shake.

''All the places we were going to do photos were blocked [so] what we've been doing is driving around and finding nice looking rubble and making the most of a bad situation,'' said Nina, a research assistant, from her wedding car yesterday.

Wedding driver, Denis O'Rourke, said the couple were having a great time touring the fallen down Christchurch buildings and having their photos taken.

''They are basically old style two story brick shops which have partially fallen down on to the footpath and their verandas have collapsed.

''Any cloud has a silver lining, its a great opportunity to make the wedding memorable'' said O'Rourke who was impressed by the couples adaptability.

Photographer, Samantha Paterson said Nina, ''a wonderful laid back bride'', came up with the idea of using the rubble for photos, turning what could have been a difficult day into an enjoyable experience.

No guests were badly injured in the quake but the bride and her mother-in-law were sporting some bumps and bruises.

''There was a bit of a drama during the earthquake, I managed to take a spill and I have bruises on my arm. My mother-in-law, she got up to get under a door frame but the door swung and caught her foot and she's got quite a nasty gouge on it,'' said Nina.

The St Andrews College Memorial Chapel where the Papanui couple held their ceremony was unscathed, but the Old Vicarage where they were to have a family dinner before the ceremony was uninhabitable.

''The restaurant that we were going to have the family dinner at is completely a no go so at this rate we might be going to McDonalds,'' said Nina.

The reception venue, Addington Coffee Co-op, lost water but managed to get it on in time for the party.

''Luckily none of the venues were in the main centre city. It's been stressful at times but mostly we've just gone with the flow.''

The couple hope to head off on their honeymoon tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News