Kiwi bride-to-be may postpone homecoming wedding for third time

Wednesday, 25 March 2020

Racheal Broyden and her fiancee Chiedozie Benedict Innocent face postponing their wedding for the third time.

A bride-to-be, who is desperate to be walked down the aisle by her ailing father on home soil, faces postponing her wedding for a third time.

Racheal Broyden, 48, has already rescheduled her marriage to Nigerian fiance Chiedozie Innocent twice due to delays with Immigration New Zealand.

But sweeping travel restrictions mean the couple, who live in the United Arab Emirates, can no longer fly out of Abu Dhabi.

It comes just weeks after they resolved a six-month delay to acquire a visitor visa for the Innocent. The groom was eventually granted permission to travel in February and an April date for the wedding was set.

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This meant Broyden's father, who suffers from emphysema, could be by her side.

The couple's wedding has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

They had initially planned to wed in an intimate ceremony with Broyden's family in Palmerston North in June.

But the big day was called off when immigration officials put their relationship under the spotlight and the groom-to-be was denied entry.

Officials were alarmed the couple could not prove they had lived together for two years.

They encountered delays while explaining it was illegal to live together in the UAE or even hold hands in public places. Devout Christians, they also believe it is not proper to live together before marriage.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic leaving her wedding plans in tatters, Broyden remains committed to marrying on home soil.

Her dress is with her parents in Palmerston North and other essential wedding appointments are paid for.

'So many questions, unfortunately, can not be answered,' she said.

'All we can do is keep up to date with the advice by the authorities, continue to pray and hope God makes a way for us to be married.'

Although they could get married in the UAE, that would mean her parents couldn't be there.

'We are remaining hopeful things will change within the next four weeks so we will wait closer to our departure date before we do anything about our plans,' she said.

Her mother, Madge Broyden, said the couple would be required to isolate for two weeks if they entered New Zealand.

She recalled the conversation with her daughter after prime minister Jacinda Ardern closed the border.

Madge and Keith Broyden want to see their daughter married at their home in Palmerston North.

'While she was being positive about it, she broke down after five minutes,' Madge Broyden said.

'She said when she walks down the aisle it's going to be the most amazing wedding because she had to fight the world to get it.'

Madge and her husband Keith had health problems, she said. They are susceptible to infections and are unable to travel.

'You can't blame people. It's nobody's fault. You've just got to deal with it.'

Broyden said she would decide on her wedding plans in mid-April.