The pandemic meant Poole couple Hannah and Wayne Bartlett had to scrap plans for a big wedding reception.

Instead they had afternoon tea in Wayne's Nan's garden where their much loved terminally ill dog Meg was guest of honour.

In fact, they say one of the most memorable moments was having their eight-year-old Alsatian attend the reception wearing flowers round her collar as she has since passed away.

Hannah, who teaches at a special needs school, and Wayne, who works as a bus driver, met as friends nine years ago and four years ago the relationship blossomed into romance.

They got engaged on the anniversary of them getting together - September 15, 2018 and planned to marry August 15, 2020.

“Wayne’s birthday falls on the 15th and we got together on the 15th so we felt 15 was a reoccurring and lucky number,” said Hannah.

And it certainly did prove lucky as they managed to go ahead and marry on their chosen date whilst COVID-19 restrictions were slightly eased on August 15.

Wayne proposed on top of a hill at Corfe Castle. Hannah recalls:“We went for a walk with our dog even though I didn’t want to as I had uni work to do for my teaching course but he enticed me up there . The sun was just going down behind the castle and he put a picnic blanket on the ground with champagne and plastic cups. We both sat there and he put a Haribo sweet ring on my finger. Then he said  ‘actually I can do one better than that’ and I turned round and he had a beautiful engagement ring in a box. I was completely stunned. I didn’t have an inkling but said yes!Then we sat on the hill ringing our family to let them know.”

They had planned to have 70 daytime guests for a barbecue on a boat from Poole Quay followed by an evening reception for 100 in a function room at the Antelope on the Quay. Both venues had to cancel as the Government announced more restrictions.

They decided to keep the date and plan a micro-wedding for immediate family. The ceremony at Poole Guildhall was attended by 17 plus two registrars and a photographer. The bridal party was Hannah’s mum, sister and two friends. Others watched on Zoom but around 15 waited outside to cheer them afterwards.

Asked the most stresful part of organising the wedding Hannah says: “The period of time between March and the wedding date. Would I be able to have my hair and make up done. Do we need to reschedule? If we can what do we do for a reception? I was upset for a couple of weeks when our big plans changed then we sat down and said let’s not think about it. So we went for a micro-wedding and thought with the pandemic who even knows if we can do this next year and we reminded ourselves the wedding was about celebrating ‘us’."

Fortunately the Government announced it would allow up to 30 people to meet outside from August 15 - so the garden party plans swung into action.

“We bough a gazebo and fairy lights and held it in Wayne’s nan’s garden. It was a beautiful evening. We couldn’t get a caterer but my mother-in-law made individual afternoon tea packs that were covid-safe. I had a chocolate cake decorated with purple butterflies and individual cup cakes for guests."

They had their first dance to James Arthur’s Just Say You Won’t Let Go and they spent the wedding night at the Hotel du Vin.

“Looking back I wouldn’t do it any other way. I honestly think we are one of the luckiest couples,”says Hannah , adding that he best memories of the day were: “Walking down the aisle and seeing Wayne; being able to see everyone again; how perfect and relaxed the day was - and my dog being at the reception. Meg was in the pictures for our engagement photo shoot and at the wedding once we got to the garden party bit which was brilliant. It was great having her there and she had her own personalised collar with blue flowers on it to match the wedding theme.”

Did you support local businesses for your wedding? E.g cake maker, décor company?

Photographer: Lauren Hyder of Originally Lauren in Christchurch

Make up: Olivia Lucy Makeup

Hair: Maria Amey Salons

Dress: Wed to Be in Bournemouth

Seamstress: White Orchard  Alterations in Corfe Mullen

Flowers: Kay Willis

Photographer: Lauren Hyder of Originally Lauren in Christchurch

Make up: Olivia Lucy Makeup

Hair: Maria Amey Salons

Dress: Wed to Be in Bournemouth

Seamstress: White orchard Alterations in Corfe Mullen