Surprise, we’re married

By Rowan Frazer

Sep 6, 2024

Grace and Harrison Rich on their wedding day.

Harrison Rich and Grace Hay pulled off the ultimate surprise for most of their loved ones at the weekend.

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The couple returned home to Deniliquin from South Australia for an engagement party scheduled for Saturday night.

But their guests were shocked to learn they were instead attending the couple’s wedding reception.

With Saturday marking a special anniversary for Harrison and Grace, they chose to be married in an intimate ceremony in Echuca that morning.

Only their close family and friends were in on the secret.

Harrison’s mum Sandra Rich said the secret wedding reception was revealed to the “surprise and shock” of the 80 ‘engagement party’ guests later the same day.

“The wedding was eight years to the day from when they first started dating,” Mrs Rich revealed.

“The ceremony was held at the CocknBull Boutique Hotel Echuca.

“Then, it was out to the designated ‘engagement party’ at Pretty Pine Hotel.

“Guests came from Adelaide, Christies Beach, Glenelg, Brisbane, Benalla, Echuca, Albury, Sydney, Yamba, Mayrung and Deniliquin for what they thought was an engagement party.”

Harrison and Grace both grew up in Deniliquin, and moved to Christie Downs in South Australia three years ago.

Harrison is the only son of Robert and Sandra Rich of Deniliquin, and Grace is the middle daughter of Mayrung’s Nick and Mandy Hay.

Harrison and Grace were each attended by their sisters at the wedding - Zoe and Keely Rich, who also now call South Australia home, and Emma and Sophie Hay, who live in Brisbane and Mayrung respectively.

Harrison and Grace stayed two nights in a glamping tent at the BIG4 Deniliquin Holiday Park after the wedding, and didn’t want to leave.

But come Monday they departed on a honeymoon in the high country, and they will return to South Australia next week.

The newlyweds would like to thank Denise, Twang and the staff at the Pretty Pine Hotel for making it a very special celebration for both of them.

They also thanked Ranii Walker of Wild Flour Cakes for the beautiful and delicious cake.