Wedding day woe for couple as blizzards ruin big day

STORM Emma has ruined the dream wedding day of her Northern Ireland namesake.

Bride-to-be Emma O’Kane and her fiance Chris Butler, from Lurgan, were forced to call off their nuptials yesterday morning, just hours before the ceremony, because of the dangerous conditions.

Heartbroken Emma (32) said she was in the middle of being pampered for her walk down the aisle when the weather began to deteriorate and she realised she would have to call off her big day after two years of planning.

The couple (right) were due to marry at Darver Castle in Dundalk, Co Louth, in front of 127 guests.

“The weather was fine last night (Wednesday) but when I woke up this morning it was like Siberia,” said Emma.

“We were in the middle of hair and make-up when my mum phoned and said the castle had been on the phone and said how treacherous it was.

“They (Darver Castle) were so good.

“They said it was entirely up to us, but that if it was up to them they would recommend postponing it. They said they would support us and give us a new date.

“It was devastating, but when I took a step back I realised the right decision would be to postpone. “People would have had to travel through that weather to get there. I have had a few wobbles but once I calmed down I just thought: ‘Right, how do I fix this?’ ”

The couple have been able to rebook their wedding for later this month and are hoping, weather permitting, to still fly out to Cuba for their honeymoon this weekend.

“It’s a bit back-to-front but we might as well salvage what we can,” said 26-year-old Chris.

“It is hard when you have to phone your wife on your wedding day and say: ‘We are going to have to make a decision about cancelling’.

“There was nothing we could do about it. You just have to take it on the chin and move on. We have rebooked for March 29.”

Aidan Carville, owner of the 15th century castle, said the area was covered in snowdrifts and with flights into Ireland cancelled he has had to call off three weddings booked for this weekend.

Emma and Chris’ celebrations were the first to be postponed.