Mandurah op shop saves LGBT couple's wedding, turns dreams into reality

Against all odds Troy Marsden and his new husband Rudson Marcoma were able to go ahead with their wedding vows despite everything that was going wrong around them.

"We were originally supposed to get married in a park in Lakelands," Troy said, "And then the reception was going to be at the Bortolo Park Hall. But with the bad weather and everything, everyone said no, don't do it," Troy said.

"We had a bushfire, a lockdown, everything going on.

"We were just going to do a ceremony with a couple of people.

"Then on Friday when they announced we could have more people [once full lockdown ended], I came up with the idea.

"It was all a bit of a nightmare. We only had two days to organise the whole thing," Troy laughed.

Luckily for Troy and Rudson, the owner of the charity shop they both volunteer at, Australian Multicultural Philippine Society (AMPS) op shop, John Stone and his wife Vivienne, were more than happy to offer the space to the couple.

"The boys were going to get married in a park, but when things went pear-shaped, with COVID and the weather, we said let's have it at the shop," John said.

"They give endlessly. Troy is a male nurse who gives tirelessly. If someone's short, they're there for them. They're just really good guys.

"Heaps of the girls who volunteer in the shop all helped redecorate. We moved the stock out the back and cleaned things up the best we could; hung curtains to hide the shelving and things we couldn't move, and it went down very well.

"Came up better than we expected. I thought, 'well at least they'll have somewhere dry to get married' but it actually turned out like a proper reception venue," John said in surprise.

The pair had gotten engaged exactly one year to the day from their marriage on February 7; and the date was especially important as it was Rudson's late father's birthday.

"February 7 is a special date for us," Troy said.

"The wedding was supposed to be September next year, but my dad's been having heart problems and I wanted to have the wedding sooner so he could definitely be there. But it was also Rudson's dad's birthday, who's passed away. His mother said she thought his father was with us, looking out for us."

John said the event was a one-off, but if there was demand they had wondered about the idea of using the space for similar occasions in the future.

"But that wasn't the idea," he said. "It was just recognition for the guys."

John went on to describe how he got into the not-for-profit field.

"I've been in business for years, but a little while ago I sold both my properties and a business and semi-retired.

"Vivienne had a heart attack, but through the grace of God she's okay. That's when we decided to give back and opened the op shop," John said.

Both Rudson and Vivienne are from the Philippines so the event was quite a multicultural affair, with traditions from the South East Asian country, including the Philippine flower dance and Sinulog dance.

The couple were even graced with the attendance of the Philippine Honorary Consul to WA Atty. Virma Symons at the wedding.

Troy and Rudson were a bit overwhelmed by it all.

After thinking they would have to cancel or postpone the wedding, to be able to go ahead with all of their family and many of their friends thanks to John and Vivienne, was an unexpected joy.

"John and Viv's family have welcomed us in. They're the best people you'll ever meet," Troy said.

"Rudson cried and made everyone cry. He couldn't say his vows properly, he cried so much.

"The last few weeks have been so horrible. Then after the wedding I felt so relaxed with no stress anymore.

"We beat the bushfires, beat the lockdown, beat the storms!"