Rutland couple marry at St Mary’s Church in Ashwell hours after coronavirus wedding rules are relaxed
A Rutland couple have tied the knot in what they believe was the first wedding ceremony in the county since before lockdown.
Jacob and Sally Cox bid farewell to a traditional wedding to instead celebrate their marriage with their closest friends and family.
The pair, who got married on Saturday (July 4), ‘were always quietly confident’ that they would be able to wed on the planned date.
Jacob, 31, said: “It was absolutely perfect.”
He added: “For us it’s the next major milestone in our relationship.
“We wanted to be married before we move on to other things in our lives.
“It doesn’t feel right to postpone another year in our life.
“We have postponed the reception for next year so we can run the wedding breakfast in its entirety with everyone being there - providing we are out of lockdown.”
The pair set up a number of GoPro cameras throughout St Mary’s Church in Ashwell to record the ceremony, which will be edited and played to guests at their reception next year.
A wedding during the coronavirus crisis has many restrictions ranging from a limit of 30 people, not being allowed to sing and bringing a speaker for music.
Social distancing measures were also in place meaning friends and family could not hug or be within one metre of eachother for photos.
Jacob said: “I am from the village where we married and so a lot of people turned up to just stand outside the church when we were arriving. It added more people to the occasion safely.”
Despite the restrictions, the couple had no doubts about going ahead with the wedding, which commenced at 2pm, even though significant changes had to be made.
Jacob said: “We were given a window to get married and there was no guarantee how long it will last.
“We have realised what’s important. For us, it’s probably that you can find out who is really behind you and see who is willing to see how we can make this day special.”
He added: “We might have been the first church wedding in the country. The best bit was the relief of it all once we got married - it actually happened and we managed to do it.
“The biggest part was having so little people, it made it really special.”