Advertisement

Winnipeg couple celebrate ‘perfect’ wedding despite relocation from Fort Gibraltar

Click to play video: 'Overcoming the odds to graduate'
Overcoming the odds to graduate
Over the next couple of days, thousands of new graduates will walk across the stage at university convocation. Tyrell Bird is the first person in his family to graduate from university, overcoming a fear of open spaces. – Jun 6, 2023

After learning that their dream venue couldn’t host their wedding, a Winnipeg couple had less than 24 hours to organize something new.

Months of planning gave way to sudden changes. For the newlywed couple, Jeff Sinnock and Desiree Penner, that meant moving their event from Fort Gibraltarthe site of a collapsed platform — to the St. Norbert Arts Centre. The work put in to accommodate the change, the couple said, was nothing short of impressive.

Click to play video: 'Winnipeg couple organize perfect wedding after last-minute relocation from Fort Gibraltar'
Winnipeg couple organize perfect wedding after last-minute relocation from Fort Gibraltar

The wedding was held on June 2, a day after they were informed of the relocation.

Story continues below advertisement

“Planning a wedding and throwing a wedding is a high-pressure job to begin with,” said Sinnock. “When you have to scramble to have it all come together in such a short period of time is very impressive.”

Jeff Sinnock (left) and his wife Desiree Penner got married at the St. Norbert Arts Centre in Winnipeg on June 2, a day after they were told they had to relocate the venue. Credit Jeff Sinnock

Sinnock and Penner, both middle school teachers, said that in the end, the wedding turned out to be beautiful. Crediting the efforts of the staff at the Gibraltar Dining Corporation, Sinnock noted it was the professionalism shown that made sudden changes easier to handle.

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“These weddings, they’re doing their best to try to relocate them,” said Sinnock, referencing the many other events that have been cancelled or forced to move. With the city stating the fort can’t be used until an engineer inspects its structure, Sinnock said it’s left the planning staff stuck between “a rock and a hard place.”

Penner echoed the sentiment, believing the last-minute changes still resulted in a fantastic wedding.

Story continues below advertisement

“You know, it’s kind of that old saying, you think you have it all planned out, but God laughs at your plan sometimes,” said Penner. “We were like … it doesn’t matter. It’ll be great no matter what. In the end, it was perfect.”

On the weekend of her wedding, Penner said there had been two other weddings initially planned at Fort Gibraltar.

As for the incident at the fort last week that left 17 students injured, Penner said she was concerned when she first heard the news.

“We also have a 10-year-old (child) and we’re both teachers. That incident was pretty close to our hearts,” said Penner. “Of course, we were thinking about the wedding and trying not to panic. We didn’t want to worry about things we didn’t know about yet.”

Click to play video: 'Questions remain after Fort Gibraltar platform collapse'
Questions remain after Fort Gibraltar platform collapse

Sponsored content

AdChoices