Free to get hitched ... ‘glad we kept our original date’
Tina and Damon among first in the country to get married outside lockdown
Celebrations were in order for one Scarborough couple who were among the first in the country to get married out of lockdown.
Tina and Damon Hotchin wed at Scarborough Register Office on Saturday – the first day couples were allowed to marry again.
“We’re so elated. It’s unreal,” said Tina. “It was amazing, the best day of my life.”
As reported last week by The Scarborough News, the couple had booked their wedding back in January and, despite ceremonies being banned under lockdown rules, hung onto their date in the hope restrictions would be eased in time for theirs to go ahead.
Their hopes were answered on June 23 when, less than two weeks before their big day, Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light.
They were only allowed nine guests at the ceremony, and their planned celebration at the Escape Rooms, in Vernon Road, which Damon owns, had to be cancelled.
But Tina says they have no regrets about sticking with their original date.
“The wedding was very interesting but it was beautiful. We said our vows and we both cried,” she said.
“The ceremony was about 10 minutes long. The register office is a beautiful place and the registrars were lovely. It was a first for them.”
Their guests consisted of Tina and Damon’s mums, as well as Tina’s son, who gave her away. “Because we don’t live in the same house, my son had to go in first and I had to follow him in,” she said.
Also there were Damon’s business partner and his wife, and other close family friends including the woman who led the acting class where Damon and Tina met.
They recorded it on video and Tina’s aunt was able to watch it online from her home in Worcester. Afterwards, they invited friends and family to call and enjoy a sociallydistanced celebratory drink either from their garden or outside the gate.
The people living on either side of Tina and Damon allowed a maximum of six guests in each of their gardens too.
Through the afternoon and into the evening, the couple had more than 40 people turn out to wish them well.
The new Mr and Mrs Hotchin are planning a bigger celebration next year when restrictions allow.