Cordeaux Heights couple Nichola Pereira and Neal Byrne had long dreamed of celebrating their love surrounded by friends and family followed by a big reception.
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But when they saw houses burnt to the ground, people fleeing their homes and having to live in cars, they realised paying $26,000 on their wedding could be better spent helping bushfire victims.
So they have decided to downsize their wedding in April and instead will donate $15,000.
"I looked at our savings and thought, 'that is an incredible amount of money to spend on one day'," Ms Pereira said.
"Neal told me he had the same thought but didn't want to bring it up with me as he thought I wanted my dream wedding.
"Then I started crying. I just knew we couldn't spend that much."
Ms Pereira has friends who live at Merimbula who were affected by the bushfires and was "overwhelmed and devastated" to see the scenes emerging from razed towns.
"We had just spent two weeks in Kangaroo Island in December before the fire started," she said.
"We saw people living in tents and cars with their kids which was so upsetting.
"I saw our savings and thought donating the money was the perfect way to help people."
The couple have saved most of their money by changing the reception venue and culling the guest list.
"Our guest list went from 100 people to 35," Ms Pereira said.
"We did feel bad for asking people not to come anymore as many of them had had us at their weddings and it would have been lovely to celebrate with them.
"But we have been blown away by how understanding everyone has been.
"Many friends have asked how they can help keep costs down.
"One friend is going to make our wedding cake for free."
The bride-to-be also said vendors had been understanding, with most giving back the deposit when finding out why the couple cancelled.
"We have lost some money but it has been worth it for the greater good," she said.
"I wanted to still have a photographer to capture the memories from the day.
"She has agreed to photograph the wedding for six hours with just our small deposit as payment. It was initially going to cost an extra $3000."
The couple will wed at a ceremony in the Illawarra Rhododendron Gardens before having dinner at Mount Kembla Pub, which had accommodated them on short notice.
"We will just have a small dinner at the pub with close friends and family, which is fine because are just happy to get married," Ms Pereira said.
She said more friends and family would come to a party at the couple's home the next day to celebrate their marriage.
Ms Pereira said she could not imagine looking back at her wedding day and feeling any regret.
"I don't think we will ever regret helping others," she said. "Besides, if we want we can have another wedding later on.
"This cause is more important and close to our hearts."
The newlyweds will visit and spend time on the South Coast at bushfire-affected towns before deciding where and how to donate their money to victims and wildlife initiatives.
"It might not be a lot of money but it is what we have saved over two years, which was difficult with three children," she said.
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