Couple who managed to tie the knot with 12 guests JUST before the lockdown reveal 300 loved ones watched on Facebook in their wedding outfits
- More than 300 people watched a British couple get married on Facebook
- Kirsten and Richard Groom married at St Matthew’s Church, Walsall, on Saturday
- They wed a month earlier than originally planned, amid the ongoing pandemic
A couple who got married just days before the nationwide lock down suspended weddings, revealed their nuptials were watched by more than 300 people on Facebook.
Kirsten Robson and Richard Groom spent 18 months planning their dream April wedding, before the Government imposed strict social distancing measures.
The couple, who are both aged 26, hastily brought their nuptials forward and tied the knot on Saturday at St Matthew’s Church in Walsall – just two days before all weddings in the UK were cancelled.
They live-streamed the service on Facebook to more than 300 guests who watched in their wedding outfits from their homes in England and in Kirsten’s native Northern Ireland.
Kirsten Robson and Richard Groom married just days before the UK government made the decision to suspend weddings across the nation. Pictured left to right: Rev Jim Troon, Richard Groom and Kirsten Robson
Church administrator Kirsten, who is partially-sighted and Richard who is a care support worker, are planning to go on honeymoon when the crisis is over.
Kirsten said: ‘We could sense that the restrictions were getting tighter and we didn’t want to risk having to call the whole wedding off.
‘Richard had seen the situation in the UK was heating up and had floated the idea of bringing the wedding forward.
‘When the Prime Minister started restrictions last week, another person said “Why not get married now?”, but we had put a year-and-a-half into planning our perfect wedding.
‘We knew there was no way we would be able to get married in April, so we took the opportunity while we could.’
The couple who had 12 guests at their nuptials, claim over 300 people live streamed the ceremony using Facebook. Pictured: Richard and Kirsten with their wedding guests
The couple were joined by 12 other guests who had all self-isolated for a week prior to the big day, the vicar and Kirsten’s guide dog Kip.
Their friends pitched in with arranging flowers and decorating the church while all the guests were told to log in for the service.
Kirsten added: ‘We had planned the wedding for April and the dress wasn’t ready but my housemates sourced another one.
‘Me and Richard are real technophobes, so our friends also set up the Facebook live stream which was basically a mobile phone propped on a music stand so everyone could watch us walk down the aisle.
Kirsten said it was strange to be in a church that has the capacity for 1,100 people with just 14 present. Pictured: Richard and Kirsten on their wedding day
‘We know at least 304 people watched it from all over England and my family from Northern Ireland, so at least they could share the day with us.
‘The church is huge and has a capacity for 1,100 people, so it was strange for just 14 of us to be there.
‘I think we’re probably the last couple in the country to get married before the lockdown.
‘The people we have talked to so far have said they felt part of it, even from a distance, and we are really happy we were able to have that option available to them.’
Richard revealed they have been working from home since their wedding and have planned to go on their honeymoon once the pandemic is over. Pictured: The couple on their wedding day with two guests
Richard said: ‘It was very strange walking down the aisle surrounded by empty chairs but we felt all our friends and family with us in spirit.
‘We are now both working from home, and are planning to go on our honeymoon to the Lake District and Northern Ireland when all this is over.’
Rev Jim Troon, who led the service, added: ‘To be honest, I found it quite emotional when they were making the promises in sickness and in health – it was a powerful thing to be saying.’