Wedding pair hope for third time lucky
BURTON TRAVEL AGENT HELPS FIX SCUPPERED PLANS –
A BURTON couple are hoping it is third time lucky after a double-dose of bad luck wrecked their dream wedding twice.
Bride-to-be Sophie Westwood fell in love with Christiaan Honeyghan when they were working at Burton’s Waterstones warehouse in 2012.
While Sophie was pregnant with their third child three years ago, Christiaan surprised her with a proposal in a romantic setting in Dalyan, Turkey.
Sophie, 26, had always wanted to tie the knot abroad and the pair arranged a ceremony for the start of this month on the Greek island of Zante.
She had found her dream dress at Alice Rose in Ashby and arranged to fly 60 guests out for the ceremony at a posh hotel.
But the collapse of travel giant Thomas Cook in September last year left her and Christiaan’s plans in tatters.
Sophie said: “It was so disappointing – I hit such a low.
“I’d never dreamed I’d ever get married, let alone to such an amazing man, and finally we’d organised everything.
“But then our dreams were shattered and I was so emotional about it.
“Christiaan and my family kept me grounded, though, and we picked ourselves up and set about reorganising it.”
Burton firm Market Place Travel was able to help Sophie and 29-yearold Christiaan book a new five-star Zante hotel and venue – The Balcony – for October 14.
However, they were soon cursing their luck again when last month’s fresh Covid restrictions meant they would only be allowed nine guests.
Sophie, who lives with Cristiaan and their children in Stapenhill, said: “This time it felt even worse.
“I had a dress fitting the day after finding out about the restrictions and I didn’t want to go.
“It was so upsetting to put the dress on when I’d effectively just been told the wedding wasn’t ’ going to happen.
“One girl made a comment that maybe it wasn’t not meant to be for us and that really upset me. I really went inside myself.
“I just thought ‘we never argue, we love each other and all we want is to get married’.
“Eventually, I came to terms with the situation and we were determined to rebuild our wedding.”
Market Place Travel again stepped in to help, first booking the couple on a holiday to Ismir, in Turkey.
They will fly out with children Darntae, six, Lorenzo, five, and Omari, three, next weekend.
And the travel agent came through again to re-book the wedding exactly as it was for May next year.
Sophie said: “I can’t speak highly enough of Market Place Travel – they’ve been amazing.
“Thanks to their help we’ve not lost any money, despite the trip being rearranged twice.
“It’s like they’re family when you go in there.
“You’re never afraid to ask any questions and they can never do enough to help.”