Couple can’t wait for lockdown wedding
Weddings can be tricky to plan at the best of times, so spare a thought for one Christchurch couple who have organised their special day during the lockdown — with just 10 days’ notice.
Nick Maher and Theresa Anderson will tie the knot today at a ceremony restricted to six guests. Some family members can’t travel to attend due to the level three rules.
Other restrictions mean Anderson can’t have her hair or makeup professionally done, and they can’t hold a reception.
Despite the regulations the pair say they cannot wait until they are married.
Their wedding was due to take place at the end of last month but had to be cancelled when level four was announced in March.
Luckily they had already collected the shoes, dress and wedding rings, so only had to pick a new date and find a venue.
‘‘We got engaged in May last year, so we probably started talking about the wedding in September,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘We were meant to get married at Queen’s Birthday but when level four got announced our venue closed.
‘‘We were going to wait until afterwards but when they announced alert level three, I said let’s just do it in the two-week block when we know nothing’s going to change.’’
They started planning on April
21 and Anderson said the hardest part was deciding the guest list.
‘‘The most stressful part was choosing the very few people that we could have there because we knew there would be a lot of people who would be sad that they could not come,’’ she said.
‘‘We really only had about six spots once you take the celebrant and the photographer into it. That was the toughest part.’’
Despite the joyous occasion, the day will be bittersweet for both of them as Maher’s mum Raewyn passed away two years ago and Anderson’s two sisters can’t attend because of travel restrictions.
The couple have been together for two-and-a-half years after meeting at work, at Foodstuffs’ distribution centre in Hornby.
Anderson will be given away by her brother Chris.
Maher’s 11-year-old daughter Tayla will be their flower girl.
Celebrant Julie Lassen, who will conduct the service, has officiated at more than 2000 ceremonies over
20 years.
She said although the actual service would be the same, she would have to remain at least two metres away from the couple because she was not in their bubble.