Outrigger Fiji’s record-time wedding bells for couple caught in Tropical Cyclone Winston

RELEASE NUMBER 22/16

CORAL COAST, FIJI – It was Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort to the rescue for United States couple Matthew Hastings and Daryl Rogers when their wedding plans were literally blown away by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Matthew and Daryl from Vail, Arizona, were to be married on Tokoriki Island Resort in the Mamanuca Islands region on Feb. 22, two days after Winston struck, damaging the resort and destroying their wedding plans.

Outrigger Fiji, which emerged from the cyclone relatively unscathed, was recommended as an alternate venue so they checked-in and immediately met Outrigger Fiji Beach Resort’s wedding specialist to discuss the options for a wedding the next day.

The resort staff swung into action, arranging a celebrant, photographer, wedding cake, flowers, wedding dinner and preparation of the chapel in record time.

Less than 24 hours after their arrival, Matthew and Daryl were married at the resort’s Bure Ni Loloma wedding chapel, with its sweeping view of the resort’s reef fringed lagoon, with hosts Vanessa Steele and Eddie Liwaiono as witnesses.

The newly married couple then celebrated with a romantic dinner at the resort’s Sundowner restaurant.

Matthew and Daryl spent their first night as a married couple at Outrigger Fiji before continuing on to Sydney, Australia, for the remainder of their honeymoon.

END