A couple who had to postpone their wedding five times thought it was “doomed” as the bride-to-be got stuck in traffic when their big day finally came.
Laura Luckhurst was about to marry her other half on Saturday when a truck caught fire on the M20 in Kent and stuck them in traffic for more than four hours.
The 28-year-old tried to marry her 12-year-old partner Michael five times in the past year.
They had originally targeted Hayne House in Hythe last summer, but the advent of the coronavirus and subsequent lockdowns meant they had to be repeatedly postponed.
Ms. Luckhurst said she “tried not to panic” while locked in her wedding dress in the back seat of her wedding car.
Have your wedding plans been disrupted by Covid? Email at webnews@mirror.co.uk
(left to right) Michael Reeves, father of the bride Paul Wraight, their second cousin Joshua Reeves and bride Mrs. Luckhurst
(Image: Michael Luckhurst / SWNS)
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
Continue reading
On the subject of matching items
In a desperate attempt to keep calm, she also opened a can of cider while waiting for rescue workers to clear the scene and vehicles to start moving again.
Michael Luckhurst and all of the guests – with the exception of his fiancé, page boy Joshua, the bride’s father Paul Wraight, and his cousin Michael Reeves – waited patiently at the venue.
The 29 year old groom said, “We originally looked at August last year, then we moved to November, then December, then March … and then finally this weekend.
The 28-year-old got out to take a picture with her bellboy in a traffic jam
(Image: Michael Luckhurst / SWNS)
“After all the shifts that have already taken place, I just thought we were doomed. It felt like a higher power didn’t want this.”
The couple were about to tie the knot at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone when traffic stopped on the London lane.
And after the bride and groom finally tied the knot almost five hours later than planned, the happy couple had to pose for their wedding photos under an umbrella when the sky opened.
Kindergarten teacher Ms. Luckhurst said, “It was incredibly difficult. I was there with my second cousin Joshua who was my page boy, his father Michael, and my father Paul.
Ms. Luckhurst said a little girl gave her a drawing during the ordeal that she would “appreciate”
(Image: Michael Luckhurst / SWNS)
“I’ve tried so hard not to panic. I feel like I managed to stay calm on the outside because I didn’t want Joshua to worry, but inside I was shaking.
“My dad is also a diabetic and we were so lucky to have some chocolate with him – because if he had gotten worse it would be another emergency.”
Of course, the bride, decked out in white from head to toe, caught the attention of her stranded passengers as she got out to stretch her legs.
She said, “I’m not a huge fan of too much attention, but after about two hours I couldn’t stay locked up.
The couple finally managed to get married, but only five hours after the scheduled time
(Image: Michael Luckhurst / SWNS)
“A couple of people came over to talk to me, and one lady was even kind enough to give me a cider; that was something I needed, believe me.
“Just before we moved again, a little girl gave me a drawing that she made of me in my dress, which I will definitely appreciate, it was beautiful.”
At around 2.30 p.m., two lanes of the road were finally released again, but by the time the bride reached her destination, it was already after 5 p.m.
Accountant Luckhurst said, “It was about a quarter past five when we actually got married. The venue was supposed to close at five, but they were so kind and understanding.”
The Luckhurst beamed when they finally tied the knot on Saturday
(Image: Michael Luckhurst / SWNS)
Best man Darren Parris said the couple faced constant change and unwelcome surprises ahead of Saturday.
He said, “They are a great couple, wonderful together, and they have just been so unlucky in the last 14 months or so.”
One of the worst moments for the couple was when they finally wanted to get married in December, but a last minute government move put things at risk again.
Mr. Parris added, “They talk about having to postpone or postpone things at the last minute, but that’s literally really what they had to do.
“You should have it at the Archbishop’s Palace in November and December 20, just for the government to literally announce Tier 4 the night before the ceremony.”
Regardless of the argument before their big day, the couple say they couldn’t be happier together.
Ms. Luckhurst added, “We’re so very happy. We’ve been together for 13 years this year and have been engaged for three years. All in all, it’s been a long time.”
Mr. Luckhurst commended the Archbishop’s Palace staff and registrars for helping to create their big day despite the long delay and described them as “brilliant”.
