A FORMER reporter for the Hexham Courant shared her memories of her wedding during lockdown.
Rosalind Eleanor Saul, then 34, married Paul Anthony Jardine, 33, in what she described as a 'very irregular wedding'.
Former Courant reporter Rosalind now works for a regulator, while Paul is a web designer.
The couple, who live in Stockport with their dog Bo, met at their mutual friend Sarah Eldridge's 25th birthday party. At the party, they all wore wigs for the Otley Run, a famous pub crawl in Leeds, while she worked for the Courant.
Rosalind is now 38 years old and Paul is 37.
"Paul asked if he could visit me in Newcastle and it went from there. After a year, I left the Courant and moved in with him in Manchester where I was a reporter at the Bolton News before moving to Healthwatch Stockport," Rosalind said.
The engagement happened on a trip to Berlin in October 2018, a city they love, to celebrate Rosalind getting a new job.
Rosalind said: "He asked me after a day exploring the city and we celebrated by going out drinking, watching jazz and eating pretzels."
They couldn't have a stag or hen party due to Covid, and their wedding was held on July 25 2020 at the Raven Hall Hotel, Ravenscar, North Yorkshire.
She said she bought her dress online 'at the last minute' from British Retro, which makes 1950s vintage-style dresses.
"The shoes and handbag were from Irregular Choice and the hat was from a vintage store. The facemask was by Bethany-Rose-Craft and the design was picked to match the outfit. Earrings were from my mother, my broach was my maternal great-grandmother's and the ring was from my maternal grandmother."
Rosalind's brother William Morrison stood in as best man on the day as they decided to keep it to immediate family only, while the groom's friend, Oliver Robinson, who was supposed to be best man, was on the phone for moral support.
She didn't have bridesmaids but was supported by her sister Alexia Morrison and Paul's niece, Grace Jardine, aged nine at the time.
She had a small bouquet of wildflowers from Ginger & Flynn, based in Whitby.
"My mum brought roses from her garden and we included those in the bouquet too," she added.
"There were 12 of us altogether - Paul's mother and uncle, his brother, sister-in-law and niece and nephew, and my mum and dad, brother and sister.
"It was the registrar's first wedding since the restrictions had been lifted, she nearly cried when she told us!
"Because it was a small wedding we decided to walk in together to Moon River, the version sung in Breakfast at Tiffany's, one of our favourite films. The families had to sit in their bubbles and even the two registrars had to keep apart - which made for a bit of a strange 'Changing of the Guard' moment when it came to signing the register," she said.
They enjoyed drinks on the lawn overlooking Robin Hood's Bay before driving to Whitby where they were all staying.
"My mum has a flat there and Paul's family booked a bed and breakfast. Paul and I stayed in La Rosa, a hotel next to my mum's flats.
"Paul showed his family around Whitby and I drank some champagne while my parents watched the cricket! We then went for a meal at the Star in the Harbour, where we cut the 'wedding cake' and had a great meal before an evening walk to our homes and hotels," she said.
The cake was an 'under the sea' themed cake from Tesco, while Rosalind's mum, Brigette, stepped in as the photographer.
For their honeymoon, Paul and Rosalind booked a room in Whitby for the week where they spent it walking in the countryside, eating fish and chips and hiding from the world.
Her favourite memory from their wedding was seeing their families and spending time together.
"Our friends surprised us in the morning with a video from them all wishing us a happy wedding day and sent flowers to the hotel."
The bride's wedding guests were Rosalind's mum, Brigette Thomasson, and dad, Derek Saul, plus her brother and sister.
Paul's mum Susan Jardine, his brother David Jardine, sister-in-law Becki Jardine, and his uncle Ste Harrison attended from his family.
They enjoyed a post-Covid celebration at the same venue in October 2021.
Rosalind said: "We did the wedding ceremony again but this time my brother William Morrison and our best friend Sarah Eldridge led the ceremony. They made it really personal to us, we read our vows and even swapped rings again. Paul said he loved me so much he married twice.
"I also wore the wedding dress I had meant to wear originally. We bought it pre-Covid but it didn't feel right for the small wedding during lockdown.
"It was lovely to be able to celebrate with our friends and family. We got the best of both worlds in the end really.
"Life has changed quite a lot in the last four years. We now have our lovely daughter Hilda, named after St Hilda of Whitby Abbey. She's nearly two and is a bundle of joy - she knows how to keep us on our toes.
"Lockdown feels like a whole other lifetime away now. I don't think Hilda will quite believe it when we tell her the story when she's older."
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