Anna and Craig tie the knot in an unconventional wedding just before lockdown

Anna and Craig began talking on a dating app. “Just after we met, Craig went away with the army to Sierra Leone,” says Anna. “He forgot to tell me that he was going into the jungle and would have no means of messaging me so after a few months of thinking he’d ghosted me, he reappeared, and we started talking again. On his return he invited me to a formal dinner at his regiment, however, he forgot to inform me that the dinner was being held in Norfolk, which was three hours away!On discovering this critical piece of information, I insisted we went on a date before the dinner and that he met my parents so I could put them at ease. Craig got the train to London, and we spent our first date at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. We had a great time, and I managed to convince Craig to come to my family home and meet my parents for a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich. Needless to say, he charmed them, and with their blessing, we left for Norfolk. The dinner went well, and by the end of the month, I was in Portugal meeting his mum and dad for the first time. After three months of dating, Craig was deployed, and we spent six months apart. He returned in October and by the end of December, we were engaged.”

Craig popped the question on their first anniversary. “After spending Christmas apart, we planned to go to Dublin to welcome in the new year and mark our first year together,” shares the bride. “Off to a shaky start, with both of our flights being delayed we finally met in Ireland. Craig insisted that we walked through St Stephen’s Green to visit Iveagh Gardens. As it was nearly dusk, I pointed out that there was no rush as it would be open the next day, but Craig was adamant that we went. Moving quickly to the gardens, we found them chained shut with no way in. It was getting dark, and we eventually found ourselves wandering around the grounds of Trinity College Dublin, where we stumbled across a rose garden. In a quiet spot, under a large cherry tree, Craig finally asked me to marry him, and the rest is history.”

Anna and Craig's contacts

Ceremony venue, St. John the Evangelist, www.stjohnsredhill.org.uk
Photographer, The Light Painters, www.thelightpainters.co.uk
Bride's dress, Aurora Bride, www.aurora-bride.com
Veil, Meadowsweet Bridal, www.etsy.com/shop/meadowsweetbridal
Hair and make-up artist, Holly-Louise Make up Artistry, www.facebook.com/hollylouiselondon
Bridesmaids' dresses, ASOS, www.asos.com
Cake, Cake Maid by Catherine, www.cakemaid.uk
Flowers, I Do Wedding Florists, www.idoweddingflorists.co.uk
Transport, Deluxe Wedding Cars, www.deluxeweddingcars.co.uk
Catering, The Frying Squad, www.thefryingsquad.co.uk