Trainee GP who was due to marry her fiancé in June reveals they brought the wedding forward to tie the knot HOURS before the lockdown started in a ceremony witnessed by their neighbours
- Emily Woodcock, 32, from Dorchester married Stuart Leakey, before lockdown
- Said nothing would have kept her from marrying Stuart, 39, not even COVID-19
- Had ‘intimate’ ceremony in an empty church with close friends and reverend
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A couple who were due to marry this summer reveals how they brought the wedding forward and exchanged vows just hours before the lockdown started.
Trainee GP Emily Woodcock, 32, from Dorchester, Dorset, married fiancé Stuart Leakey, 39, last Monday, just hours before the Prime Minister banned all weddings and gatherings of more than two people in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19.
The couple made the snap decision just days earlier and, with the help of their reverend, were able to arrange the wedding at St Christopher’s Church in the rural village of Winfrith Newburgh, Dorset, in just two days.
Emily Woodcock, 32, from Dorchester, Dorset, married fiancé Stuart Leakey, 39, just hours before Prime Minister Boris Johnson banned all ceremonies and gathering of more than two people in a bid to limit the spread of COVID-19 (pictured on their wedding day)
Pictured at the front of the church with the reverend who married them. The couple said it took them two days to arrange their marriage
The service took place in front of their neighbours, who acted as witnesses.
Mrs Leakey said: ‘I was not going to let coronavirus stop me from getting married.
‘We asked ourselves how we were going to do it and we spoke to our reverend and then, suddenly, we had less than two days notice before we got married.
‘Even though the church was empty it was very intimate and it was nice because of that. We made it as special as we could.
Emily said nothing would have stopped her from marrying Stuart, not even a global pandemic (pictured)
‘The reverend was so lovely and really went out of his way to make the most of it for us.
‘The only witnesses were our close friends who are also our next door neighbours and it was a really lovely day.
‘I have some underlying health issues and am in the vulnerable category for coronavirus.
‘We just thought that should the worst happen and one of us didn’t make it through this pandemic then we wanted to get married.’
The wedding took place at St Christopher’s Church in the rural village of Winfrith Newburgh last Monday (pictured: the couple after their wedding)
The couple’s only guests were their next door neighbours who attended to bear witness to the ceremony (pictured drinking champagne after tying the knot)
In a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the couple did not invite other guests but said their friends and family had been understanding of their decision. They are planning a party for next year so they can celebrate their union with loved ones.
Mrs Leakey was still able to wear her wedding dress, although she needed to wear a shrug over the top as it had not yet been altered to fit.
For now the newlyweds will spend their honeymoon under the current lockdown rules, but they hope to go and see the Northern Lights once travel restrictions have been lifted.
For now the newlyweds will spend their honeymoon under the current lockdown rules, but they hope to go and see the Northern Lights once travel restrictions have been lifted. (pictured showing off their signatures in the register)
The couple were proud to have made the best out of the situation they had found themselves in.
Mrs Leakey added: ‘They say you only get to do it once but we get to do it twice!’
‘We love that we have done this and at a time when things are so sad I’m so happy to share it.’
The happy couple say their family were understanding of the decision and are looking forward to another party next year (pictured: the couple during their wedding)