A couple in the Philippines proceeded with their wedding ceremony in waist-deep floodwaters inside their local Catholic church. Leian Lieza Galang and Gilbert Chico, both in their 30s, exchanged vows at Saint John the Baptist Church in Hagonoy on Tuesday, a day when the church had been partially submerged for nearly a month due to rising waters.
The bride, Leian Lieza Galang, waded through murky brown water in her wedding gown to reach the altar. Footage of the ceremony shows her carrying a bouquet of white flowers, seemingly unfazed by the conditions. The pews were empty but adorned with plastic flowers in an effort to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
Wedding photographer Mikko Rey Alfonso stated that the parish had advised the couple to postpone their wedding due to the rising floodwaters. However, the couple was resolute in their decision to proceed. "It was their decision to proceed," Alfonso said. "Since they wanted to see it through, we the servants of the parish did the best we could to make this a special day for them."
The heavy seasonal monsoon rains in August led to landslides and flash floods in the northern Philippines, resulting in 34 reported deaths. Despite these conditions, Alfonso remarked on the couple's determination, saying, "They love each other. Nothing could stop their union."
Further images from the event showed a young boy carrying the wedding rings while wading through the floodwater, which reached his waist. The bride arrived at the church via a rickshaw with an elevated chassis to protect her gown until she reached the flooded courtyard. Her dress train was also shortened for ease of movement through the water.
Fewer than 15 guests attended the ceremony. The couple was eventually declared husband and wife by the parish priest during an abbreviated late-morning service.