Couples rearrange their wedding in just three hours to get married before new tier restrictions

One couple rearranged their entire wedding to get married in just three hours before the new coronavirus level restrictions went into effect.

Rhiannon Robertshaw, 29, and husband Joe, 26, from Staffordshire planned to tie the knot on New Year's Eve on the third anniversary of their first meeting.

However, their plans were put in jeopardy on December 30 at 3 p.m. when Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the area would move from Tier 3 to Tier 4.

Rhiannon and Joe, who were at work at the time, were determined to take their vows and tried to organize a whirlwind wedding before walking down the aisle at 6:30 p.m.

Rhiannon, a tech assistant at an optician, said, “We met online on a dating site and actually became a couple on New Year's Eve.

“That's why we wanted to get married this time of year, because we wanted it to be as close to the New Year as possible.

“The wedding was originally booked for January 4th, 2021, but we knew we couldn't have a reception so we moved it to New Year's Eve.

"We thought if we couldn't have the venue, we might as well ask the church if we could move it for a short New Year's Eve ceremony."

Within 20 minutes of Boris Johnson's announcement, they called the priest, who agreed to hold the ceremony at St. Giles Church in Cheadle on short notice

Joe admitted it was a bit of a nudge as his family had a two hour drive to get to church from Halifax, West Yorkshire

She continued: “I was at work on Wednesday and heard that Boris Johnson would make his announcement at 3pm. I didn't hear it myself when I was working, but the girls at work listened to see what would happen.

& # 39; One of the bosses then called me away and said, "Look, we're going to fourth level" so we both had a bit of a scream together.

"She just said," If there is any chance it will work, please get married, we will take care of everything here. "

"So I called Joe and he called his family and tried to get them from Yorkshire. Then we called the priest and he said he could do it."

The couple, who got engaged 18 months ago, could say "I do" in front of 15 close friends and family members

Within 20 minutes they called the priest, who agreed to hold the ceremony on short notice at Rhiannon's family church, St. Giles Church in Cheadle.

They quickly contacted family, friends and a wedding photographer and managed to rearrange their wedding day in just three hours.

Rhiannon continued, “Our photographer was available too, so I left work at 4:00 PM and we were married at 6:30 PM.

"We literally just winged it and my colleagues texted me and I just replied," Yeah, we called it, it's a good job, I straightened my hair this morning. "

The bride explained, “There was no time for anything, no makeup or anything, it was just about getting down the aisle.

“Luckily we had some things planned and had brought the bridesmaid dresses and my dress to my grandmother's house because I was going to get ready there anyway.

“So our outfits, shoes, and jewelry were all ready to go. It was just about actually getting there and getting dressed.

“But Joe changed in the church parking lot.

"Luckily he works for himself so he wondered and the afternoon off."

Due to Covid restrictions, the couple had to shrink their guest list from 150 to just 15 people, meaning only their closest family members and friends could legally attend.

Rhiannon added, “We were still allowed 15 people but unfortunately there were two who couldn't, one of whom was Joe's mother.

“She works for the police and had just started a night shift when we called. But she was amazing and gave us her blessings to keep going.

“If we couldn't do it now, we wouldn't know when we could do everything in the future.

“She was a little upset, but we had a chat with her and we want to party a lot when we can all and renew our vows so she can see me and Joe get married.

“It was a tough year and we lost both people. That's why we decided to do it now instead of leaving it.

“Joe lost his stepfather and I lost my grandfather and that was the key factor that we would never have all the people we wanted there.

"Instead of risking it and waiting, let's just have everyone we wanted there now."

Speaking of the ceremony itself after the insane rush down the aisle, Rhiannon said, “It was really weird and surreal to me, it was all a bit of a whirlwind, but it was totally worth it.

“I was just really excited that we actually did it, the way it was over and over again.

The animal announcement was at 3 p.m., but Bride Rhiannon, who had already bought her dress and shoes, was able to walk down the aisle at 6:30 p.m.

The couple contacted family, friends, and a wedding photographer and managed to rearrange their wedding day in just three hours

“We had just managed to go from 150 to 15 people. We couldn't do that again and cut it off.

“We are planning a big task, but we don't know exactly where there are no restrictions on the number and people who should be there on that big day.

“We just want to thank everyone who was there and made it possible for us.

“All of our family, the priest and Joe's family who traveled two hours and literally dropped everything.

The couple enjoyed a quick toast in the church parking lot with family and friends after the ceremony

"It was amazing that they managed to make our day as special and beautiful as it was in just three hours."

Groom Joe, an architectural designer, added, “Everyone was rushing around for me and I still wanted to be there an hour early so I just stood there and waited for everyone.

“It was all a little weird and we didn't really have time to think about anything.

"Instead of getting excited and then upset and upset and upset again, we decided to stop thinking about it and go with the flow and then all of a sudden it exploded and we had three hours to make it happen."