Jemma and Peter's Wedding at Norwich Catholic Cathedral
Jemma and Peter’s wedding was simply magical. Having originally been organised for July 2020, the couple decided to postpone their big day to September when lockdown hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. With social distancing guidelines changing constantly, they were worried that it wouldn’t be able to go ahead – but with just weeks to spare, the announcement was made that ceremonies and receptions for up to 30 guests were now permitted. These two wonderful people got to have their wedding of their dreams, and I was so incredibly thrilled to be a part of it.
After a summer of stress and worry, not only for myself but for my friends, family and every single client that had to make the difficult decision to postpone or cancel their wedding, it was absolutely wonderful to watch such a heartfelt ceremony take place. Jemma and Peter tied the knot at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, surrounded by their loved ones, before moving the party outside for an intimate reception in the grounds. What made the day even more special were all the personalised touches, from the handmade Nigerian food on offer, to the stunning gown Jemma designed herself, to the meticulously crafted bouquets by Wildfolk Flowers. The speeches took place outside in the sunshine, and the rest of the reception was a relaxed affair with drinks, dancing and macarons (yum!).
Jemma and Peter achieved the ultimate micro-wedding, celebrating not only their love but that of their friends and families as well – and it was simply beautiful. I absolutely love the photographs from this day and am so happy for the fabulous couple themselves. Congratulations, Jemma & Peter!
With so many other couples worrying about their big days, including my own clients, I asked Jemma and Peter how they felt planning a wedding in such uncertain times, and what the big day had meant to them. Here’s what they had to say:
"Planning a wedding during lockdown was a whirlwind - we tried to plan for every scenario with a vision that we would get married in 2020, whatever the weather. And considering our reception was outside, that's quite the statement! Three weeks before our July date, weddings were still banned and we made the decision to delay for 2 months. For us, this difficult time put into perspective exactly why we were getting married. We accepted that whilst our reception might look different, have fewer people or have to be delayed altogether, the most important thing was that we could have our ceremony. We were blessed that in September we could have 30 guests, our reception and that the sun was shining.
On the day we enjoyed family friends waiting on the street to wave us into the cathedral, an intimate ceremony and a relaxed outside reception. Elderly/vulnerable people left promptly after the ceremony and more friends arrived to take their place. It was the casual, relaxed, personalised reception we had always wanted - it just took us some time to realise it.
The day was a ray of sunshine - especially after such a tough few months. With fewer people attending we were able to catch up with our nearest and dearest and spend lots of time with people we hadn't seen in months. We know it wouldn't be for everyone, but it was the right decision for us.”
Scroll down to see their beautiful wedding photographs (click to expand):
Suppliers:
Venue: The Cathedral of St John the Baptist
Makeup artist: Adam Gough
Hair stylist: Leanne Moralee
Florist: Wildfolk
Entertainment: Lydia Lee
Cake maker: Macarons and More
Catering: homemade; Grovesnor Fish Bar; and Brick Pizza