Sunderland couple's 48-hour whirlwind to tie the knot before lockdown cancelled dream wedding day

Newly weds Mark and Emily Turnbull, of Grangetown, had been planning their big day for more than three years and were due to tie the knot at Doxford Barns, in Northumberland, on what would be the sixth anniversary of their first date on November 14.

But when the Government announced a second national lockdown, their dreams came crashing down as all weddings would be cancelled.

With groom-to-be Mark, 37, who works in the Royal Navy, the couple wouldn’t be able to gamble on dates to reschedule next year as they didn’t know when the Leading Hand would be on leave.

Instead the couple faced cancelling the dream day they had waited for since Mark popped the question on New Year’s Eve 2017 during a surprise trip to Venice.

On Monday, November 2, just three days before the lockdown, 30-year-old Emily had the ‘crazy idea’ of trying to bring the wedding forward.

“On the way to work I called the registrars and they said they could do it as long as our venue could,” said Emily, a school counsellor.

"I called the venue and they said that they’d get my wedding coordinator to call back. After my first meeting I had a missed call, I rang them straight back and they said they could do it for Wednesday.

"It was then that I rang my now husband to see if he wanted to get married in two days time. He was just taken aback but said of course.”

Emily then emailed the 14 guests as well as businesses hired to provide flowers, the cake as well as the photographer and videographer and is ‘eternally grateful’ to everyone who pulled strings to make their wedding an unforgettable day.

"I was running around like a headless chicken,” laughed Emily. “One on my bridesmaids was only told she could get the time off work less than 24 hours before. It was a whirlwind few days.

"Everything was amazing, all the suppliers and the venue were superb I couldn’t fault them and for it to be pulled together with just 48 hours notice everything was just as we’d hoped.

"We were both devastated and in bits when we found out we wouldn’t be able to get married on the 14th. To go from a huge low to such a high the next day when we realised we could make it happen. It was indescribable, it was a miracle.”

The next day, the couple had the joy of sharing the news with family and friends, who couldn’t attend because of restrictions.

The couple, who met on a blind date, are hoping to plan their honeymoon for next year in line with the movements of the naval shift Mark works on.

"It was a surreal and magical day. We sat on the first day of lockdown looking at our wedding cards and we just couldn’t believe it.

"We’re eternally grateful to all of the staff at Doxford Barns and all of the businesses who made our day so special.”

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