A couple who cancelled their wedding FOUR times because of coronavirus restrictions finally tied the knot – despite a last minute snow storm threatening the ceremony.
Paramedics Rob Stewart, 30, and Beth Griffin, 25, managed to say their vows at the fifth time of asking in a “fairytale” wedding on Sunday (27/12).
The pair had previously seen their big day scuppered during the Covid-19 pandemic on four different occasions after they planned to get married in spring.
Their original wedding date of March 25 was cancelled as a result of Britain’s first lockdown.
They rescheduled for the same date next year but scrapped that because they thought restrictions wouldn’t allow them to have the large party they wanted.
Their third attempted wedding date was pencilled in for November 28 and they planned a small ceremony with a handful of guests.
When the second lockdown was announced they hastily brought forward their wedding to November 4 – just hours before the second lockdown.
But the couple’s dreams were dashed again when officials said they had not given the council the 28 days legal notice of the marriage.
Now Rob and Beth have been delighted to finally say “I do” at a ceremony held at Worcester’s Guidhall in front of 15 friends and family.
The couple were also able to hold a small reception at Wayland’s Yard cafe bar, as the city remains in Tier 2.
Rob and Beth will have one day off before working together on the front line again for West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Rob said: “To be honest when it started snowing heavily I was worried we might have to cancel again if people couldn’t get to the Guildhall but it made it even more special.
“I’m so glad to be in tier two, as much of the country is not – so we were quite lucky with that.
“Getting married was always our priority. And everybody has been really supportive.
“It was a really nice little reception. A lot of friends and family have been stuck in a room working from home on their own, so it was really nice to actually meet up.”
Guests included Beth’s 91-year-old grandfather David and the couple were also given the free use of two Rolls Royces by Worcestershire Wedding Cars.
Beth said: “It was so lovely to have family there. Just being able to socialise with people again properly was amazing.
“It was definitely a relief that it went ahead this time, we were almost waiting for something to go wrong.
“But we count ourselves lucky to be in Tier 2 as it enabled us to have a reception as well. I can see all that changing soon so for once it looks to have worked in our favour.
“We managed to have a sit down meal, cut our cake – which was more of a stack of brownies – and have our first dance in the courtyard.
“We just played socially distanced games after that and had a wonderful time. It was a great way of ending a rubbish year.
“The snow made it quite like a fairytale too, so although it wasn’t the dream wedding with over 100 people we envisaged – it certainly came close.
“It’s just what we needed after what has been a difficult year for everybody. We certainly felt like we deserved a bit of luck after all the cancellations.”
Rob and Beth, of of Malvern, Worcs., now hope to go on honeymoon to Antigua once travel restrictions allow.
Beth added: “We’re back to work this week so a honeymoon might be a way off yet.
“We can’t really self isolate for two weeks given our jobs but hopefully we’ll be able to get a break in the not to distant future.
“We were just happy to finally get married after it being cancelled four times. We can’t thank everyone enough who made it eventually happen.”
While juggling their ever-changing wedding plans, the couple have also been working hard during the coronavirus pandemic.
Beth said previously: “I have admittedly struggled a lot this year but have had great support from work, friends and family who have kept me going.”
Rob added: “We both found it very challenging and quite overwhelming.
“There was suddenly a huge risk about going to work and catching the virus ourselves, and bringing it home to loved ones.
“We were faced with a lot of new challenges such as having to wear personal protective equipment to every patient, and in life threatening situations having to don a higher level of PPE.”
