ALOR STAR: Like all newlywed couples, Nur Izzatul Asma Mustafa, 22, and her soulmate Mohamed Khairie Mohamed Kamal, 28, had imagined that they would be celebrating their big day with some 1,000 family members and friends.
However, their dream wedding was ruined when the homestay in Titi Besi, Kepala Batas, that they rented to hold the reception became inaccessible due to worsening floods.
A road from Kepala Batas town to the venue is currently closed to light vehicles due to rising floodwaters.
"We did not expect that there would be flooding, as normally, only the east coast states experience flooding at the end of the year," she said.
Despite the setbacks, Izzatul said she and her husband are grateful that their solemnisation ceremony went smoothly yesterday at about 11.30am.
"The 'jurunikah' even had to arrive by boat to perform the ceremony," quipped Izzatul.
She expressed her gratitude to family members and friends who braved the floods to attend their solemnisation ceremony, arriving by boat and pick-up truck owned by the villagers.
"Although it's upsetting, my husband and I see this as a memorable chapter of our wedding day, celebrating amidst a flood.
"We even took photos in our wedding attire on a boat and in a four-wheel-drive vehicle against the backdrop of the flooded area—it was quite fun," said the clerk.
Izzatul said they couldn't cancel or postpone the wedding reception as everything was already paid for.
She said the wedding arrangements had been made since May, with invitations and bookings for the dais, bridal outfits, makeup artist, and wedding souvenirs, which cost approximately RM20,000.
"The caterers agreed to deliver the food, but we had to pack everything, including the wedding souvenirs, to distribute to guests using a lorry," said Izzatul, who hails from Kampung Alor Ganu, which metre-deep floodwaters have inundated since the past four days.
Khairie said he was relieved the solemnisation went as planned but was saddened that his family from Simpang Kuala could not attend the reception due to road closures caused by the flood.
"Only three family members managed to attend the solemnisation, while the rest could not be there due to the floods.
"I've only ever seen stories of weddings during floods on television and social media. I never thought my wife and I would experience it ourselves, but we've accepted it as it is," said the electrical goods salesman.
The bride's mother, Surina Said, 51, said she didn't expect her daughter's wedding reception, which had been meticulously planned for the past five months, to be forced to be adjusted so drastically.
"Although it's disheartening that our house is flooded with water over a metre deep, we've accepted it as fate.
"We'll continue to rent the homestay until the water subsides completely. If the water level rises further, we may have to relocate elsewhere," she said.
The bride's father, Mustafa Ismail, 62, said he had informed relatives and friends about the flood situation.
"If the guests still wish to come, we'll provide a boat.
"If they want to wade through the water or use a four-wheel drive, that's up to them, but light vehicles can't get through due to the strong current.
"This is the worst flooding I've experienced since 2010.
"Back then, the water barely reached the road outside our house, but it's significantly higher this time," he said.
The number of flood victims in the country continues to rise, reaching 119,701 people in nine states this morning, compared to 102,000 reported last night.
According to the Info Bencana portal of the Social Welfare Department (JKM), 119,701 people from 36,032 families are seeking shelter at 697 temporary relief centres (PPS) as of 7am.