Joanne & Robin

An online meet up led to a windswept wedding day for Joanne and Robin.

The couple, from Liversedge, West Yorkshire had a low key first date with bowling, followed by drinks.

Joanne remarks, ‘I was really poorly on the day of the date with a chest infection, but I didn’t want to cancel the date because I thought it would look really bad and come across as a typical excuse ‘being ill’.

But being ill didn’t stop her and they both got on like a house on fire, even sharing their love of football.

The couple’s relationship blossomed with holidays abroad, attending other friends’ weddings and Joanne getting to know Robin’s daughter Ruby. Then in 2018, they bought their first home together, and an engagement soon followed.

On a family holiday to the Costa Del Sol, after a gorgeous Italian meal by a sunset backdrop, Robin popped the question and the wedding planning began.

When asked how the planning went, Joanne responded, ‘To begin with, the planning was extremely straight forward. From getting engaged in July, everything was booked and organised by the December. With Covid hitting the UK, our plans were in the balance.’

The couple waited as long as possible, until just 4 weeks before their wedding date, when they had to make changes, including a massive cutback on guest numbers. The wedding date should have been Friday 28^th August, however, due to the pandemic, things had to change slightly and the couple instead wed on Monday 24^th August.

Joanne said, ‘We couldn’t have a reception as such, so we opted for a very intimate, low key meal with our close family and friends. Our suppliers said that I was one of the calmest, laid back brides they had worked with’.

The couple got married in The Old Court Room at Huddersfield Town Hall, surrounded by their parents and Robin’s daughter Ruby. In a lovely turn of events, all the guests were able to act as witnesses and each signed their marriage certificate; a wonderful added touch.

The sit down meal was at Lakeside at the Ponderosa Rural Retreat in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Guests enjoyed a 3 course meal of hearty vegetable soup, chicken supreme with dauphinoise potatoes and chocolate fudge cake.

Despite the restrictions, not everything had to be stripped back and the decor for the day was beautifully rustic, with home made centre pieces including decorated jars featuring gypsophilla and bunting. Joanne’s bridal bouquet featured stunning David Austin roses.

‘The highlight of our day was just how intimate everything was. We managed to talk to all of our guests, we had time to sit back, relax and enjoy, taking in every moment’, Joanne remembers.

When asked what advice they’d give other couples planning their wedding, the couple responded, ‘Just remember the reasons why you are getting married. The day is about the two of you, and not anyone else.’

Suppliers List

• Bridalwear – Brides to be, Queensbury, West Yorkshire
• Florist – Down To Earth Florist, Batley, West Yorkshire
• Cake – The Bakery Barn, West Yorkshire
• Wedding Rings – Bride’s – Ernest Jones, Groom’s – Beaverbrooks
• Love Letters – Love Sweet Love in Birstall, West Yorkshire
• Groomswear – The Grooms Room, Horbury, West Yorkshire
• Photography – Leah at LMS Photography, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
• Venue – Lakeside at Ponderosa Rural Retreat, Liversedge, West Yorkshire
• Makeup – Done by bride with help from Donna Gould Makeup (Chesterfield) taught over Microsoft Teams