Bride and doom!

When disaster nearly struck, we made sure it didn’t ruin our big days!

An X-ray revealed that I’d fractured my ankle

Hobbling to the altar By Rachael Forbes, 35, from Cumbria

The sun was shining – and, with two weeks to go until my wedding in July 2013, I fancied catching a bit of sun. So I headed off for a walk. Bumping into my neighbour and his dog, I stepped back to let them pass.

But I lost my footing in a pothole and went over on my right ankle.

‘Ouch!’ I cried out in pain.

I knew something was wrong, and had to ask my neighbour for a lift back home.

I put my feet up and stuck a bag of frozen peas on my ankle. But it was swollen, throbbing and bruised.

My fiance Adrian was away for work so I hobbled round to my neighbour’s.

‘Could you take me to hospital?’ I asked sheepishly.

At A&E, an X-ray revealed that I’d fractured my ankle.

‘But I’m about to get married!’ I gasped. I felt so sorry for myself as my in-laws-to-be, Maureen and Tony, picked me up and took me home. The next day, I went back, had an unsightly boot fitted and was told to rest my foot. Family and friends rallied round, helping with last-minute wedding preps. Luckily, the ugly boot didn’t show under my dress. Walking down the aisle was funny. My dad has difficulty walking, so we helped each other – him with his stick, me with my boot. We must’ve looked a right pair! ‘Show us your boot!’ my friends yelled later, as I posed for photos. Adrian and I danced, drank and mingled with guests as though nothing had happened. It was a perfect day! Just a shame the ‘something blue’ was my bruised leg!