This is the heartwarming moment two newlyweds had to cross a swollen river in a backhoe to reach the church on time following heavy rain.

The happy couple Regie Sareno, 34 and Ivy, 26, were on their way to the venue but were faced with the fast-flowing torrents of muddy water in the town of Sibalom in Antique province, the Philippines, on June 27.

Locals expected the stream to be passable as it is normally dry or shallow enough to walk on the stones on the riverbed.

Refusing to let the obstacle their special day, they convinced construction workers to lend them the backhoes being used to build a bridge in the area.

Footage shows the pair, still wearing their gown and traditional barong suit, being carried by the heavy machinery across heavy flood. Since the river was too wide for a single excavator, they had to use another one to relay them to the other side.

Their entourage of roughly 200 people also reportedly crossed the stream using the same method. They all reached the church in time for the wedding vows and the reception.

The couple said they were grateful nothing untoward happened as they and their guests were ferried across the river.

Ivy said: 'This was a special day that I'll remember forever. It's destiny that we were supposed to be married and nothing could stand in the way, not even the weather. I get emotional when I think about everyone who helped.'

The Philippines and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are in the middle of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October or November.

Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods.