Fouth time lucky!
As everyone knows, the coronavirus pandemic has sadly wreaked havoc on people’s lives in many different ways, including by disrupting major personal events such as weddings.
Couples around the country have experienced endless heartache as their longed-for, meticulously planned nuptials have had to be cancelled, in some cases – such as Heather Wilkie and Tom O’Donnell’s – no less than three times.
So in the end it was fourth time lucky for the North Ferriby couple, who overcame all the hurdles to finally become man and wife on August 7, 2021. And what a day it was!
Romantic proposal
Sales manager Heather, 31, first met project manager Tom, 33 (who is also a semi-professional rugby player), in his home city of Leeds, where she was a university student.
The pair only became romantically involved after Heather graduated. “He contacted me on Facebook, then we had our first date in February 2016, and it just went from there,” Heather recalled. They moved into their own home just a few streets away from Heather’s family home in the attractive East Yorkshire village of North Ferriby and Heather patiently awaited a proposal, which eventually came on a holiday to Reykjavik in Iceland in January 2019.
Heather said: “It was the last day of the holiday, it was snowing and I just wanted to stay at the hotel but Tom insisted we should go for a walk to this beautiful church. We stood outside to take photos, then he surprised me by dropping onto one knee and producing an engagement ring. We didn’t get to see the Northern Lights but the proposal made it a memorable trip!”
Wedding planning began in earnest, with a focus on booking a venue for 2020. The couple visited a few options, but couldn’t quite find what they were looking for. It was only really on meeting Chrysta from Village Farm Marquees that the idea of holding their celebration at Heather’s family home took root.
Heather said: “I just clicked with Chrysta straight away. She was brilliant, so visual and full of ideas, and the plans she drew up were amazing. That’s when we made the decision to marry at Ferriby church and have the reception in a marquee in my parents’ garden.”
With the date set for June 2020, the excitement began to build, only for everyone to be knocked sideways by the pandemic and consequent lockdowns. Not knowing quite what the future held, the date was changed to August 2020, but Heather desperately wanted full attendance from friends and family on her special day, so took the decision to reschedule yet again for May 2021. When it became apparent COVID restrictions would still be in place, she once more stuck to her guns and moved the date for the final time to August 2021.
She explained: “We were inviting 143 people, and I wanted each and every one of them there. It felt like a long, tough process, but it was the right thing to do and in the end it was definitely worth the wait.”
The couple were a little less lucky with their hen and stag plans – or at least one half of them was! Heather caught COVID just before Tom’s party, meaning they both had to isolate and
his outing was cancelled. However, Heather came out of isolation in time for her hen do and was able to live it up in Leeds with her girlfriends.
A day to remember
With the church ceremony taking place at 1.30pm, Heather and her maid of honour – twin sister Amy – along with her four bridesmaids and three flower girls, had plenty of time to prepare. She’d chosen a stunning white strappy fishtail dress, a delicate tiara, and simple bouquet of white roses and peonies.
Meanwhile rugby player Tom wore a deep blue jacket featuring a paisley print that was tailor-made for his muscular frame, paired with black trousers.
Heather was whisked to church in her father’s classic MG sports car, while guests were transported via a vintage bus. Now officially man and wife, the happy couple and all their guests then travelled to the Wilkie homestead for a champagne reception in the garden, featuring delicious canapes and music from an electric violinist.
The fully lined marquee included a China hat entrance, panoramic windows, a comfy seating area, circular mirrored bar and a ‘reveal’ to the dancefloor with an atmospheric starlight ceiling. Everyone was seated on gold-washed Camelot chairs at round tables, and the ivory-and-gold themed interior was styled with a mixture of crystal candelabras, gold plates, and cherry blossom trees.
Guests dined on sumptuous fare courtesy of local caterer and restauranteur Ceruttis, and danced the night away to music from a live band and DJ. The couple also entertained their audience with their first dance – a recreation of the classic ‘Dirty Dancing’ routine to ‘I’ve Had the Time of My Life’, which they had prepared thanks to a few secret dancing lessons!
The newlyweds were the last woman and man standing at 4am, when they finally called it a night after a day filled to the brim with memorable moments. “What made it so special was having all of our family and friends together in one place, and being there for us, celebrating with us,” said Heather. “We both felt that it was so amazing, we can’t stop watching the videos and looking at the photos! It really was the best day of our lives.”
For Heather, one standout memory is Tom’s speech. She explained: “Tom’s a much quieter person than me, and he’s not used to public speaking. But his speech was so heartfelt and moving, I was in tears for most of the speeches.”
On Sunday, a number of guests returned for a tasty hog roast, and the VFM team came by the following day to disassemble the marquee. Heather added: “From start to finish, Chrysta was fantastic. She kept me informed, recommended suppliers, and just thought of everything so that I didn’t have to. She’s full of enthusiasm and passion, and I felt as if I’d known her forever and she became a really important part of the whole wedding.
“She also put me in touch with wedding planner Helen Davies, who was a godsend and really went above and beyond. She supported us for six weeks leading up to the wedding and was there from 9am on the day, making sure everything was perfect. My parents said it felt like a massive weight was lifted off their shoulders and it meant we could all just relax and enjoy ourselves instead of stressing about organising all the suppliers and logistics.
“Both Helen and Chrysta were so helpful and responsive, I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Perfect teamwork
Wedding planner extraordinaire Helen Davies was hired to provide final stage management and on-the-day co-ordination, and threw herself straight into the job of making sure Heather and Tom’s big day ran like clockwork.
“I did my absolute best for Heather – all her well-laid plans had been so badly hampered by the pandemic, and some of her original suppliers were no longer available,” Helen explained. “It was so disappointing for her. So I acted as a sounding board, and gave her some much-needed extra support and guidance to ensure all the necessary suppliers were in place and she was guaranteed an amazing wedding.
“It was such a pleasure to work with Heather and her wonderful family. It’s always more complex when you’re holding an event at home, rather than at a venue, but I was able to help them overcome any challenges and made the planning easier so they could simply relax and enjoy the day without worrying about anything.”
One thing Helen is never able to control is the weather, but she has even sparked rumours of possessing Mary Poppins-like powers as the arrival of the guests at the family home was orchestrated to perfection – everyone was able to enjoy outdoor canapes serenaded by the violinist, with the heavens only opening just as the last guest entered the marquee!
Helen added: “Heather went to great deal of effort to create an unforgettable experience for her guests. The marquee was dressed spectacularly, the bespoke menu was delicious, the drinks flowed and the entertainment was first class. The day was full of fun, everything went so smoothly thanks to having the right team and a lot of careful organisation both before and on the big day.”
Chrysta Newman, Co-director at Village Farm Marquees, said: “The Wilkies were such lovely people to work with, the whole family were incredibly warm and welcoming. It felt like a long journey with all the delays – we’ve all lived through the rollercoaster of emotions together!
“We wanted it to be perfect for them, and I’m so happy it turned out how it did. There’s been a few tears along the way, but in the end, this was a truly unforgettable wedding and one that people will talk about for a long time.”
Following the wedding, the happy couple honeymooned on the idyllic Greek island of Mykonos for a blissful 10 days, and are already looking forward to their next family celebration as Heather’s twin sister is planning her own wedding for 2022.
Suppliers
Bride’s dress: Chloe Jane Bridalwear
Groom’s jacket: Owen Scott Bespoke Tailor
Wedding cake: Juniper Cakery
Entertainment: DJ Matty Whittaker and Vibe Music
Catering: Ceruttis
Bar: Louisiana’s and Triton Inn
Florist: Louise Pepper
Styling: Fulford Flowers and Sophisticated Shindigs
Furniture: Black Events
Photography: Inspire by Kelly
Videography: VIP Creative
Transport: East Yorkshire Buses Vintage Bus
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Images kindly supplied by: Damien Bailey Photography, Beyond the Frame Photography, Insight Photography, M&G Photographic, Clique Visuals and Lydia Photography