SES evacuation orders have been issued for low-lying properties at Taree Estate, Dumaresq Island and Cundletown

The Manning River Times reported on Friday that the MidCoast Council’s sewer network was inundated with stormwater, causing drainage issues with sinks, showers and toilets.

The council’s general manager Adrian Panuccio asked residents in the Gloucester area to use water “sparingly”.

Mr Panuccio said the floods appeared to be just as bad as flooding in 1978, describing the situation as “pretty full-on”.

Daniel said the couple had been saving for their dream wedding for three years “but are now separated by floodwater on their wedding day”.

“Waking up in the morning, the groom was shattered,” Daniel said. “His biggest fear was that the the bride and our families were in danger. We quickly realised that the wedding was not going ahead and that we could be in some real trouble.

“The bride was obviously devastated when morning light arrived to reveal that the wedding venue had become an isolated island in the hills and their hopes of a wedding were dashed. The worry turned to fear when they realised that they were trapped.”

However, Daniel said he believed the bride and other family members were on high enough ground “to ride out the flooding and, despite being trapped, are safe”.

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“Our fears are for the safety of all the guests that have travelled from all across Australia to attend the wedding and we hope that everyone in the flood affected areas are safe,” Daniel said.

“I know we are lucky to be safe from the floodwaters, but my heart and my families’ hearts are breaking seeing my brother separated from his fiance on their wedding day.”

At midday, Daniel said the groom and other family members were still trapped in Taree: “It’s strange, the sun is shining but there are houses and a shed floating past us in the floodwater of the Manning River.”

Daniel said the wedding party appeared to be safe and “it was time to open a bottle of bubbles”.

“They have enough food and beverages to feed an entire wedding so despite their situation they have everything needed to hold a wedding, except the groom of course.”

But he added: “You cannot put your hopes and dreams into a wedding and not shed a tear when it falls apart in front of you.”