Two couples, one set to marry and the other to renew their vows, were left to struggle on Saturday after their venue went up in flames.
Crews were still at the Puslinch Lake site Sunday, spraying water on the smoldering ruins of the Old Marina restaurant just outside Cambridge, Ontario. The historic building is considered a total loss after a fire ripped through it the previous day.
Joe and Marcy Pullen had to renew their vows at the venue on Saturday after COVID-19 postponed their big wedding celebrations.
“From day one we wanted to get married on the water and that was our choice,” said Joe. “We were lucky to get it.”
Instead, when their special day arrived, the couple arrived to find the building in flames.
“I had to turn Marcy’s head because I didn’t want her to see it and I gave her a big kiss,” Joe said.
As the flames grew, the couple were left looking for somewhere else to go and were greeted by an outpouring of generosity from the community.
Joe and Marcy Pullen renew their vows at Cambridge Mill on Saturday, July 30, 2022; a makeshift version after their original venue burned down on the day of the ceremony. (Sent)
“People stopping on the side of the road and just complete strangers offering their restaurants, hotels,” Marcy said.
The wedding guests also tried to help out, managing to find a place at Cambridge Mill.
“For the first Saturday in I don’t know how long we’ve had a room available,” Cambridge Mill general manager Alex Kastner said. “This never happens, but we happen to have a spare room.”
All 70 wedding guests made their way to the venue.
While scrambling for food and decor, Cambridge Mill called in extra staff and was able to provide a ceremony, catering and dance floor.
While scrambling for food and decor, Cambridge Mill called in extra staff and managed to provide a ceremony, food and dance floor for the couple and their 70 guests. (Sent)
The Pullins weren’t the only ones with an event booked at the Old Marina restaurant on Saturday. The venue was also due to host another wedding which also had to be moved.
This couple found a place on the open road.
“Venue, food, music, what should we do,” said Tara Douglas, a childhood friend of the couple, recalling how the wedding celebration began.
“We called Azores Bakery in Cambridge and said, ‘We’ve got three hours, whatever you’ve got, can you help us?’
Bride Nicola Fielding and groom Roland Dahlrup talk to CTV News on July 30, 2022. (CTV Kitchener)
Bride Nicola Fielding and groom Roland Dahlrup said they had to cancel several wedding events in 2020 due to the pandemic, so this is just another hurdle.
“We were kind of used to things getting in the way, so it wasn’t really a blow [us] so hard at first,” Roland said. “We just got on the phones and did what we could.”
They managed to get food in for 100 guests and the celebration continued.
“It’s amazing, everything came together, we had our family and friends supporting us,” Nicola said.
As of Sunday, crews were unable to enter the ruins of the Old Marina restaurant to investigate the cause of the fire.
No injuries were reported.
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