Tourism operators in remote western Queensland hope a small outback wedding will be the start of a big program of events returning to the outback in 2021.

Returning to Birdsville to tie the knot was not what newlyweds Anne-Marie Donovan and Darryl "Digger" Burley initially had in mind for their special day.

But, after postponing their wedding several times due to coronavirus restrictions and border closures, the couple from Toowoomba loaded their four-wheel drive and headed west to tie the knot at the iconic Birdsville Hotel.

The town on the edge of the Simpson Desert is a special place for the lovebirds, who first met there eight years ago.

An outback love story

Digger, a helicopter engineer with the Australian Army by day and a hardened warrior of the Fred Brophy Boxing Troupe by night, thought he had seen it all.

That was until Anne-Marie laid eyes on him.

"The following year [we met again and after] we had a drink that night, we were barely apart for the rest of the weekend."

Fast forward to 2018, Digger dropped on one knee and their courtship turned to an engagement on the very spot they first met.

A winery wedding was planned with all their friends and family but the COVID-19 pandemic meant any plans had to be put on ice.

Finally, the date of February of 26, 2021 was set.

Snap lockdowns earlier in the year happened across the country and threatened to stop their special day, until the idea of returning to Birdsville arose.

A wedding party of six made the journey from Bundaberg and South Gippsland, but the couple's five grown-up children could not be in attendance.

The hard decision had been made that if one could not make it, then none could.

"Our children were the main ones to give their blessings, they are all just so excited, it was a, 'Yep you do it' and so it has been perfect," Anne-Marie said.

"It's been worth the wait, I never thought this day would come but it has. It feels fantastic.

Locals missed the social side of events in 2020

Ben Fullagar manages the 137-year-old weathered sandstone pub and leapt at the chance to host the wedding and catch up with old friends after missing out in 2020.

"We normally have the same crew that come out for the events every year and you catch up every year, so we really missed that social aspect as well during last year."

Birdsville normally has a population of just 115 people but that swells to more than 10,000 during major events like the Big Red Bash and the Birdsville Races.

The town's bakery didn't open in 2020 and is currently looking for a baker.

The Birdsville Hotel is now operating the bakery and Mr Fullagar is set on opening the shop in time for what is expected to be a bumper tourist season.

The return of big crowds and big events

Major events across the outback were cancelled last year, so organisers are doing everything possible to be back up and running in 2021, with COVID-19 safe plans.

For the first time in the event's 139-year history, tickets to the Birdsville Races will only be available for pre-purchase and earlier this week the Big Red Bash had its COVID-19 safe plan approved by the state government.

Stephen Schwer, the Diamantina Shire Council's community sustainability manager, said it was going to be a great time but asked for patience because with so many people passing through, some restrictions would have to be in place.

"From our council point of view, we've had to do a lot of things to make sure we're prepared, upping the cleaning of our public toilets at our tourist park and all of those kinds of areas," he said.