St Barnabas Hospice Wedding

This year has been a year of uncertainty and heartbreak. However, for many vulnerable individuals this year could also be their last, so it is essential that we find ways to celebrate life, with focus on love and friendship in whatever form that may take. I have been involved in lots of charity work over both the lockdowns, from delivering meals to those most vulnerable within the community of Louth, coordinated by the Neighbourhood Kitchen, a charity founded by Paul Hugill of ‘The Priory Hotel by Thomas Espin’, established on the announcement of the first lockdown back in March, with the focus to feed those families and individuals in desperate need throughout the COVID pandemic.  

Then in the second lockdown, I was honoured to make a wish come true for one truly special family, with the help of some incredible suppliers. At the start of December, I was contacted by Veronica McBain head of Fundraising and Marketing for St Barnabas Hospice. St Barnabas has continued to work on the frontline caring for those living with a palliative illness, supporting them and their families, an essential role made even more poignant due to increased levels of people in hospital, lockdown, and stringent government guidelines. Veronica shared the story of one of the patients’ being cared for by the hospice living with a terminal illness. Their last wish as a couple was to formally cement their relationship, a gift Veronica and St Barnabas wanted to grant. Due to time constraints, it was impossible to have a legal ceremony so instead we granted their wish with a celebration of love, it was a true honour to have been involved in creating such a monumental event, especially as I conducted the ceremony myself. A blessing of marriage between two special soul mates. So, with only week to plan I got straight to work and called upon some exceptionally generous and wonderful suppliers.  

It was only to be an intimate affair between them two, so we all wanted it to be extra special, incorporating the festive season, their favourite colour, purple, and vows that connected to them specifically, telling their story, forging their bond. For the bride we were provided the most beautiful wedding dress donated and gifted, with tiara kindly loaned from ‘Fancy Frox’ and bridal cape loaned by us, ‘Amy Lauren Weddings’. The groom was handsomely dressed in a gifted wedding suit with a purple tie that complimented the bridal bouquet and buttonhole, kindly gifted by ‘Limewood Flowers’.  

The ceremony was planned to take place outside to manage COVID guidelines, whilst adding a sense of seasonal festivities and romance. Kindly, ‘Nunton Christmas Trees’ gifted a tree with lights that stood against a styled archway of fairy lights, surrounded by wooden crates, and gold candles sticks balanced on romance novels. On top of one of the crates stood a cake of dreams. Fresh butter cream, filled with purple treats designed and baked by ‘The Cakery Lincoln’, with a wedding topper and Christmas wreath designed by ‘Very Wreathy’.  

To document this exceptional day, we were honoured to be joined by Rachel London Photography to capture those moments that this special couple can cherish forever, eternally reminding them both of their commitment and love, regardless of how much time they share together, these photos will last a lifetime.  

St Barnabas Hospice carryout the most exceptional care to those with a terminal or life limiting illness, working tirelessly to help keep patients at home, providing hospice at home nursing, keeping loved ones with their families for as long as possible, partially funded through the NHS, yet with an enormous target every year to fundraise to continue their pivotal services throughout Lincolnshire. Throughout the last year, St Barnabas Hospice has been ever more essential, working alongside the NHS to care and support those living throughout Lincolnshire. The care and support St Barnabas provide is not only medical, but pastoral and compassionate built from love. 

It was an honour to help St Barnabas for fill this final wish for just one of their patients, showing us that love always finds away, just as soul mates always find one another, regardless of time, distance, and adversity. A lesson that we should all take on board as we enter a New Year, regardless of hardship, illness or even global pandemics, love is what brings people together and friendship, in whatever form, will always find away. 

(To ensure privacy limited photos are shared due to the sensitive nature of the day)