Country house near Rugby hosts one of Warwickshire's first weddings since easing of lockdown restrictions

A couple have thanked Warwickshire Registration Service and Ashton Lodge Country House in Stretton Under Fosse for their “kindness, support and patience” after they tied the knot in one of the first ceremonies in Warwickshire since the easing of lockdown restrictions.

The wedding ceremony of Megan Lupton and David Landwehr, who live on the edge of Leicester, took place on Monday, July 6 - just two days after weddings could officially restart following updated Government Covid-19 guidelines.

The couple had planned to marry on 28th March, but they had to postpone their ceremony when lockdown restrictions were imposed.

Megan and David contacted the registrars from Rugby Registration Office and staff at Ashton Lodge Country House after their ceremony to thank them for their support over the last few months in making their wedding day a reality.

They said: “We credit the marriage we are able to have now, to you.

“Throughout the process, especially the ceremony, we appreciate every time you put our minds at rest, reached out to see how we were and did everything you could to make our marriage a reality.”

Megan said: “Honestly the wedding was the most beautiful day. Strange and sanitary, but as perfect as we could have wanted it to be.

“Having stripped away the extras, the room full of guests, photographers and wedding planners, it simply became a celebration of two people's love for one another.”

It was a far more intimate wedding than the couple had originally planned, with just a small number of guests able to attend due to the current restrictions.

But Megan and David will celebrate again in March next year with the family and friends who couldn't attend their wedding service.

Superintendent Registrar for Warwickshire Registration Services, Di Lampard, said: “We were delighted to enable Megan and David to say ‘I do’ at one of the first weddings in Warwickshire after lockdown - and to help ensure that it was a day they will always remember for all the right reasons.”

The happy couple told staff from Rugby Registration Office and the Ashton House wedding venue:

“The ceremony itself was absolutely perfect. You made us feel so warm and welcome, on a day that could have easily been distant and clinical.

“All of our guests agree that your genuine smiles and positivity made the ceremony what it was, a celebration.

“We can't fault your handling of the pandemic; you have all been incredible. So, thank you.”

After the original lockdown lead to them postponing their ceremony, ensuring the marriage could now happen was not without complications.

Megan said: “David is an American so had to apply for a visa before we could get married.

“Hearing that our wedding was cancelled was not just devastating, but a real worry for our future too.

"Our second date was the 1st of July, which was also cancelled, before we were finally able to get married on the 6th of July.”

“The couple had already had to postpone their original marriage date; now there was the added complication of David being here from America on a marriage visa which was due to expire shortly,” said Superintendent Registrar, Di Lampard.

“The next hurdle was that they live on the edge of Leicester - so we also had to contact Public Health for the go ahead.

“Fortunately, Megan and David’s home fell just outside the Leicester lockdown area, so all was able to proceed.”

Councillor Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council’s portfolio holder for Customer and Transformation, said: “This is the most wonderful feedback from Megan and David, who were so grateful for the empathy and understanding that our registrars had shown them in getting their wedding back on track.

“I’m really pleased that we have also been able to officiate weddings in other parts of the county since the Government guidelines changed.

“There will have been fewer guests that usual, probably a lot less partying, and definitely a lot more social distancing than you would normally have at a wedding ceremony - but I’m delighted that we’ve been able to give all these couples a special day.”

Now happily married, Megan and David say they 'cannot wait to party hard next March'.

“We are so looking forward to starting our lives together, after spending two years in a long-distance relationship,” said Megan.

“We can't wait to do all of the things that normal couples get to do, like planning holidays and going to the cinema.

"Getting married was more than just our wedding, it was the start of the rest of our lives.”