By all accounts it was a joyful day, but the occasion was a bittersweet one for the Gymea family as Lee's mother Linda made a special trip from St George Hospital.

Linda Garrad, a history teacher at St George Girl's High School who had taught in the area for 35 years, was diagnosed in March 2006 with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

After chemotherapy and surgery she was given the all clear in 2007, but was hospitalised again when the cancer reappeared.

Mrs Garrad's husband Michael said Lee and Anthony had planned a wedding in October, then moved it forward to March this year as a result of the new diagnosis.

``Recently the doctors revised their opinion,'' he said.

``They said Lee should have her wedding as soon as possible.''

The family, knowing Mrs Garrad's desire to see Lee in her wedding dress and to be part of such a special day, sprang into action.

They enlisted the support of businesses throughout Sutherland and put together an affirmation ceremony, almost a pre-wedding wedding, in a little over a week.

``The support we had was just amazing, from hairdressers to cake makers to the people who helped us clean up the yard and get the house ready,'' Mr Garrad said.

``It was fantastic. It meant so much to Linda to be a part of the day and we couldn't have done it without the help we had locally.''

With the Garrads' two other daughters, Jody and Alexandra, their partners Chris Bourquin and Christopher Russell and a select group of family and friends present, Mrs Garrad was able to attend the ceremony. To cap off an emotional day, Jody's boyfriend Chris proposed after Lee and Anthony's ceremony.

She happily accepted.

``It was a fantastic day,'' Mr Garrad said. ``It was very emotional and quite romantic.''