My heart sank as the events coordinator from our wedding venue delivered the bad news over the phone. “We’re so sorry, but we’re going to have to postpone your big day until 2021,” he said. I sighed and grabbed a pen, crossing off another bullet point from our to-do list. In what should have been the final few exciting weeks before Dave and I walked down the aisle, it was quickly turning into every bride’s worst nightmare.
The phone had been ringing non-stop as the florist, venue, DJ and everyone else involved in our wedding made the dreaded calls to cancel our bookings due to the coronavirus.
I snuggled up on the sofa next to our four-year-old son George, who gave me a big cuddle. “It’s OK Mum, just have your wedding when things go back to normal,” he said sweetly.
I took a deep breath, fighting back tears – I didn’t want my little boy to sense my disappointment. “Good idea George. Mummy will figure it out,” I promised. Poor George was oblivious to what was going on in the world.
“That’s everything cancelled now,” I said to Dave over dinner that evening as I finally closed my wedding planning diary. I knew it couldn’t be helped – and that the health and safety of our family and friends was much more important – but I was still crushed.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477197592.jpg]
We broke the news to my brother Philip and his wife Joyce over FaceTime that night. They live in Hong Kong but had been put on lockdown before the UK and had been gutted that they might miss our big day.
‘”It’s such a shame you won’t be able to visit now. But at least you’re not missing the wedding,” I said.
After telling the rest of the family, we got stuck into being in lockdown. Dave was busy with his accounting job working from home while I kept George occupied. I tried to distract myself with strolls around Chester, spending sunny days in the garden and attempting arts and crafts with George – all while pushing our wedding woes to the back of my mind.
One particular afternoon cheered me up. Dave and I virtually attended a friend’s birthday party over Zoom. It was so much fun chatting for hours. “I’ve got an idea,” I said to Dave later. “Lockdown isn’t going to stop us celebrating our ‘would have been’ wedding. This can still be our big day!”
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477197771.jpg]
Dave agreed, as long as I promised it would be a small affair. But as I got into organising mode, sending virtual invitations was just too easy – the excitement of having lots of people there took over. How else could I make this day special?
Fizzy afternoon tea, speeches made via Zoom and a socially distanced photoshoot to mark our special day. Check, check, check!
“I just really don’t want the day to pass us by without celebrating it,” I said to Dave as he laughed while questioning my now not-so-small-scale plans.
Late one evening while lying in bed, I was scrolling through eBay on my phone when I spotted it – a ‘make do’ wedding dress. I had to have it. The eBay find was originally from BHS and a real bargain. It featured a lace structured top, with a pretty pearl waistline and a pleated chiffon skirt. And it was just £20. While I absolutely love my real wedding dress – a beautiful design from a boutique in Chester – I knew that we would still have a proper ceremony and I wanted to save it for that.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477279713.jpg]
ZOOM BRIDE AND GROOM
Our ‘would have been’ big day on 1 May soon arrived and I was buzzing with excitement. The living room had been transformed into a make-do venue with themed decorations I had already ordered for our real wedding. Dave and George spent the morning together, getting dressed in their suits, while I managed to get my nails done using a nail kit and put on some false lashes to make it feel more like the real thing.
I styled my hair and make-up as I normally would if I was going out but, as I looked in the mirror, a wave of sadness washed over me. I should have been getting ready with my mum Shelagh but, of course, she was at her own home with my dad Dave, 20 miles away.
A little bit of sparkle soon cheered me up though, as I slipped on my Marks & Spencer wedding shoes and did up my nan’s pearl necklace. I stood in front of the mirror and smiled – happy wedding day.
Keen not to let the day pass without some photos to cherish, I had found a photographer on Facebook. Careful not to break Government lockdown rules, I picked the one who lived the closest and who could incorporate our shoot into her daily exercise.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477279990.jpg]
“I’ll be able to take them from here!” Nakita from Little Rainbow Photograp...
The phone had been ringing non-stop as the florist, venue, DJ and everyone else involved in our wedding made the dreaded calls to cancel our bookings due to the coronavirus.
I snuggled up on the sofa next to our four-year-old son George, who gave me a big cuddle. “It’s OK Mum, just have your wedding when things go back to normal,” he said sweetly.
I took a deep breath, fighting back tears – I didn’t want my little boy to sense my disappointment. “Good idea George. Mummy will figure it out,” I promised. Poor George was oblivious to what was going on in the world.
“That’s everything cancelled now,” I said to Dave over dinner that evening as I finally closed my wedding planning diary. I knew it couldn’t be helped – and that the health and safety of our family and friends was much more important – but I was still crushed.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477197592.jpg]
We broke the news to my brother Philip and his wife Joyce over FaceTime that night. They live in Hong Kong but had been put on lockdown before the UK and had been gutted that they might miss our big day.
‘”It’s such a shame you won’t be able to visit now. But at least you’re not missing the wedding,” I said.
After telling the rest of the family, we got stuck into being in lockdown. Dave was busy with his accounting job working from home while I kept George occupied. I tried to distract myself with strolls around Chester, spending sunny days in the garden and attempting arts and crafts with George – all while pushing our wedding woes to the back of my mind.
One particular afternoon cheered me up. Dave and I virtually attended a friend’s birthday party over Zoom. It was so much fun chatting for hours. “I’ve got an idea,” I said to Dave later. “Lockdown isn’t going to stop us celebrating our ‘would have been’ wedding. This can still be our big day!”
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477197771.jpg]
Dave agreed, as long as I promised it would be a small affair. But as I got into organising mode, sending virtual invitations was just too easy – the excitement of having lots of people there took over. How else could I make this day special?
Fizzy afternoon tea, speeches made via Zoom and a socially distanced photoshoot to mark our special day. Check, check, check!
“I just really don’t want the day to pass us by without celebrating it,” I said to Dave as he laughed while questioning my now not-so-small-scale plans.
Late one evening while lying in bed, I was scrolling through eBay on my phone when I spotted it – a ‘make do’ wedding dress. I had to have it. The eBay find was originally from BHS and a real bargain. It featured a lace structured top, with a pretty pearl waistline and a pleated chiffon skirt. And it was just £20. While I absolutely love my real wedding dress – a beautiful design from a boutique in Chester – I knew that we would still have a proper ceremony and I wanted to save it for that.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477279713.jpg]
ZOOM BRIDE AND GROOM
Our ‘would have been’ big day on 1 May soon arrived and I was buzzing with excitement. The living room had been transformed into a make-do venue with themed decorations I had already ordered for our real wedding. Dave and George spent the morning together, getting dressed in their suits, while I managed to get my nails done using a nail kit and put on some false lashes to make it feel more like the real thing.
I styled my hair and make-up as I normally would if I was going out but, as I looked in the mirror, a wave of sadness washed over me. I should have been getting ready with my mum Shelagh but, of course, she was at her own home with my dad Dave, 20 miles away.
A little bit of sparkle soon cheered me up though, as I slipped on my Marks & Spencer wedding shoes and did up my nan’s pearl necklace. I stood in front of the mirror and smiled – happy wedding day.
Keen not to let the day pass without some photos to cherish, I had found a photographer on Facebook. Careful not to break Government lockdown rules, I picked the one who lived the closest and who could incorporate our shoot into her daily exercise.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/457676/5eccc21c8a5c9/1590477279990.jpg]
“I’ll be able to take them from here!” Nakita from Little Rainbow Photograp...
You're reading a preview of
New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 1, 2020