West Sussex wedding venue and local businesses rally to help Littlehampton couple marry before lockdown

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A Littlehampton couple changed the date of their wedding at the last minute to enable their marriage to go ahead before the coronavirus lockdown.

Maryann and James Stedman had planned a wedding with 70 guests at Long Furlong Barn in Clapham for Friday, March 20.

With the coronavirus crisis worsening, they made the difficult and agonising decision to cancel, in order to safeguard their friends and family.

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Venue manager Vicki Lamont spoke to the couple and, understanding their brave decision not to proceed, decided to go above and beyond to help them, with the support of other local businesses.

Maryann and James Stedman at Long Furlong Barn in ClaphamMaryann and James Stedman at Long Furlong Barn in Clapham
Maryann and James Stedman at Long Furlong Barn in Clapham

Following a conversation with the bride and bridegroom, she offered them the opportunity to proceed with their marriage last Wednesday, two days before the planned date.

Instead of the wedding they planned, Maryann and James had a private ceremony with just the registrar, witnesses and their mums.

Vicki said it was nice to be able to help the couple, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, so they could achieve their dream of being married.

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She said: “On the cusp of lockdown, they made the decision to proceed with their marriage two days earlier than planned, to ensure they could get married, but without their guests.

“As a result, they had no wedding suppliers to support them, so I became official photographer, taking photographs of their ceremony.

“We felt that offering the couple the option of continuing with their vows with the most important people around them was what they wanted, so we were happy to continue and provide a moment of happiness in these uncertain times.”

Greenfingers florist in Worthing supplied a complimentary wedding bouquet for the bride and Brighton-based caterers Circa Events provided complimentary fizz to celebrate with after the ceremony.

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Long Furlong Barn has also offered the couple the opportunity to reschedule their date with their family, towards the end of 2020.

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