A couple who were married in a ‘dream’ fairytale wedding with the help of charity after the bride was diagnosed with terminal cancer have revealed their excitement to spend first Christmas together.
Lauren, 25, from Cheshire, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in February last year and, despite rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she was told it was terminal.
Her then-boyfriend José proposed and the Gift of a Wedding charity stepped in to help couple have their dream day one year on in February this year.
Now the couple have revealed their excitement to spend their first Christmas as husband and wife, with José telling the BBC: ‘It does help that we’re crazy about each other and madly in love, so that’s kind of overshadowed this bad news that we’ve had. We’ve just enjoyed every moment that we can.’
Lauren, 25, from Cheshire, and her husband José said their love for one another was helping them cope with her terminal cancer ahead of their first Christmas together
The couple said they were overjoyed on their ‘dream’ day, which was gifted to them by charity Gift of a Wedding
After her diagnosis, Lauren went through rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but it was later confirmed the cancer had spread and was terminal.
José said: ‘I wanted to ask Lauren to marry me because I wanted to show her just how much I do love her and that we’re there for each other through thick and thin.’
The charity Gift of a Wedding helps people with life limiting conditions get married by bringing together suppliers who donate time and services.
With the help of the charity, the couple were married at Peckforton Castle, a luxury wedding venue in Cheshire.
Before they walked down the aisle at the luxury wedding venue, the couple said they felt ‘very emotional’
Speaking before the ceremony, Lauren said she was overwhelmed with happiness saying: ‘I can’t wait, I can’t wait to walk down the aisle.’
Meanwhile her father called her ‘a stunner.’
She said: ‘Every little girl has obviously thought about their dream wedding, but to actually get married in a castle, that is a dream.’
And bridesmaid and José’s sister Daniella revealed she had always known the couple were meant to be together.
The couple were emotional as they performed their first dance, with José sobbing into Lauren’s shoulder
She said: ‘Straight away I loved her and I turned around to my mum and I said, “You know what José is going to marry her.” And here we are.’
Before the ceremony, he said he was ‘excited more than anything’ but ‘mainly nervous and a bit shaky.’
He went on: ‘As soon as that music comes on, I’ll have the tears rolling down my face. When I look at her, it’s going to be very emotional.’
José said the couple were now passionate about encouraging others to push for diagnosis from doctors (pictured, on their wedding day)
Meanwhile she said: ‘If I didn’t have that support around me, I don’t think I’d mentally manage. But I am. And we’re doing it.’
And José admitted that their bond helped them maintain a positive outlook, despite Lauren’s diagnosis.
He said: ‘It does help that we’re crazy about each other and we’re madly in love so that’s kind of overshadowed this bad news that we’ve had and we’ve just enjoyed every moment that we can.’
José’s friend and singer-song writer Tom Walker sang for the couple while they performed their first dance, with the groom breaking down in tears in the emotional moment.
Opening up about the big day, José said: ‘I couldn’t stop looking at her. I still can’t, I look at her every day now, she’s beautiful.’
He said: ‘I wouldn’t wish anyone to be in the position we’re in if it can be prevented.
‘So we’re really passionate now about people who think something is wrong with themselves, that you really push for an answer.’
Lauren added: ‘So many girls out there who are just terrified of having a smear – don’t be. Get your smears girls.’
Lauren has now started a clinical trial at The Christie Hospital in Manchester and the couple are enjoying their first Christmas as newlyweds.