She and her now-husband, Aleck, had been engaged for 10 years. Every time they thought about planning the wedding, something came up, but they were in no rush.

Not until her father, Nelson Meezs, was diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer.

"He was given four months, but he had taken a bad turn," Helen said.

"The night before we said let's just bite the bullet and have it in his Farmborough Heights backyard."

Cue a mad dash to Kmart for some decor and Lowes for suits - but not everything is easy to come by at the last minute. Four local Wollongong businesses, in NSW's Illawarra region, stepped up and helped make Helen's dream of having her dad walk her down the aisle a reality.

Lauren Basi, of Fleurèscent Flowers, pulled together the floral arrangements overnight.

"They were amazing, I still love them," Helen said.

Cakes By Me Jess whipped up a delicious wedding cake with less than 24 hours notice.

Alicia Estraube and Beronica Estraube from Bercia Beauty did the bride's hair and makeup.

Anne Young of Heather and Twine photograpy took "beautiful, raw" images to commemorate the occasion, and celebrant Dean Bonnor spent his lunch break conducting the ceremony.

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"We just made it - it was dad's last bounce back," Helen said.

"The ceremony was on June 26, then he went downhill and we lost him on July 4.

"Mum told me later he had said we should sneak the wedding in before he went, but we had no idea. We were so glad we did it, knowing it was something he wanted."

Nelson was able to walk Helen down the aisle, and share their father-daughter dance. She was the last of his four children to be married.

He was also well enough to share a dance with his wife, Vilma.

"It was perfect for us," Helen said.

"Friends took the day off work to turn up, my sister did lovely grazing platters, Mum and Dad had their song. Sometimes I look back and think it was a sad day, but it really wasn't. It was the last day we had him. People were crying, but it was beautiful."

The next year, on Nelson's birthday, Helen gave birth to her and Aleck's third child and first daughter, Catalina.

Although the wedding was in 2019, Helen wanted to reach out and thank the businesses who had made her dream come true.

"They did an amazing job on no notice, and wouldn't even accept payment."