Couple’s 96-hour rush to share big day before new rules brought in

PRE-LOCKDOWN WEDDING WAS ARRANGED IN JUST FOUR DAYS

EZRIN Raja and Jodie Smith had their hearts set on an autumn wedding and sharing their happy day with their closest family and friends.

So when news broke on Tuesday, September 22, of the government’s new coronavirus restrictions, to be enforced on October 1, including limiting wedding celebrations to just 15 guests, they set about arranging their nuptials and tying the knot just four days later.

The couple of 10 years, from Humberstone in Leicester, who had originally planned on getting married on a Greek island back in April, teamed up with wedding planner Joanne, from Wedding Planning By Joanne Carly, to organise venue, caterers, hairdressers, florist, cake, a celebrant, wedding outfits and guest invitations.

They booked Norton Fields, near Twycross, and after a frantic 96 hours arranging everything for the venue they were wed on Saturday, September 26.

Business coach Ezrin, 44, and tours agent Jodie, 35, were joined by 30 guests for a happy but socially distanced celebration.

Ezrin, owner of Phoenix Lifestyle Coach Ltd, said: “We just didn’t want to wait any more. We had planned to get married in Santorini in April, but that was cancelled.

“We moved it to August, but then we had lockdown and we weren’t able to travel. “So we just said to each other, let’s get married here in the UK and have a party while we can. We’ve been waiting so long to get married, and we also thought that our family and friends would appreciate the party.

“The venue was perfect and there were no hiccups on the day. “It was a wonderful day, everyone enjoyed it, and we’re just so grateful to those who helped us realise our dream.

“We worked out that it was just 96 hours from confirmation of venue to us walking down the aisle. We were really careful and had all the Covid-19 restrictions in place but that didn’t spoil the day.

“We still can’t quite believe we managed it.”

Jodie, who works for G Touring, said: “We tried to cut the numbers down to 15, but that would have meant only our family could attend and no friends would be there on the day.

“We looked at the list and just couldn’t find a way of cutting it down. We wanted everyone there who had planned to give up their time and money to travel to Santorini with us.”

When travel restrictions are eased, the newly-weds plan to have their celebration on the Greek island.

It was just 96 hours from confirmation of venue to us walking down the aisle

Ezrin, pictured with Jodie