Love was in the air at Orbost Regional Health’s (ORH) Waratah Lodge last Friday and was all for a good cause – raising funds to find a cure and to help those living with motor neuron disease (MND).

Brides Revisited was a “beautiful, beautiful day”, Jenni Broadley, who along with fellow ORH staff member, Jules Henderson, coordinated the day, which Jenni said was an “overwhelming success”.

“We have a resident with MND, and one of our staff member’s mothers also has MND. It’s a subject close to our heart, and I just wanted to do something to help,” Jenni said.

“Jules said she’d worked somewhere where they’d had a Brides Revisited event, where ladies come dressed in their wedding dresses, or their mother’s, and it was a success, so we thought why not do one ourselves.”

Brides Revisited at Waratah Lodge was a huge success.

“We had more than 80 people, with residents of Waratah Lodge and Lochiel House and members of the community, with 14 models, three grooms to escort them and two ushers to escorts ladies to their chairs when they arrived,” Jenni said.

“Andrea Jones, who works in our kitchen, baked a wonderful wedding cake that was cut by Chris Eaton and Joan Brown. Andrea also prepared about 90 per cent of the reception food with delicious finger food, savoury and sweet. One of our volunteers, Julie Mundy, who goes above and beyond, made all the bridal bouquets, buttonholes, corsages, and they were just beautiful. It was a wonderful day with a wonderful team of helpers.

“We had what we called our fluffers helping the girls and ladies into their dresses, etc. The girls were all so keen. They wore their own dresses, their mothers’ dresses, and dresses that were loaned for the day, and each dress had a story to tell.”

Around $1900 was raised for the MND Foundation through merchandise sales, raffle tickets, prizes and an auction of the beautiful flower arrangements.

“The residents and everyone involved are still talking about it,” Jenni said.

They probably will be for some time yet, but is there another on the cards?

“I’ve been told I’ve got 300-odd days to organise another for next year, but it’s a huge thing. Who knows?” Jenni laughed.

PICTURE: Shannon Cole, escorted by Glenn Turner, wore a stunning one of a kind handmade couture gown, worn by Samantha Osborn, nee Johnstone.