There was no stopping one wedding recently, even COVID couldn’t swipe away one couple’s big day.

The Bridgerule couple, originally from Bude, tied the knot hours before the rules changed, and ensured they had the wedding they wanted.

Rachel and Daniel Kensit were due to be married on December 31 at Poundstock Church and had booked the Gildhouse for the reception. However, it was announced that Cornwall was going to move from Tier Two into Tier Three on that date.

But the quick-thinking couple weren’t going to be beat.

Rachel explained: “We spent six hours decorating the church on the 30th. Then the news hit we would be in Tier 3 from midnight and we realised our reception would not be able to go ahead.

“This was at 3.30pm. My husband to be was at the venue sorting speakers for our the music when I called to tell him. We were both gutted.”

However, they both decided that they were going to move the day forward and put the wheels into motion. Rachel continued: “He rushed to ask the church warden; in the meantime my partner phoned the caterers to see if they could provide their services that night instead of the following day. Amazingly, he rearranged his evening and said ‘yes’. The vicar called at 4.40pm and said ‘yes’.

“The next hour or so was a blur of rushing to my parents, making phone calls left right and centre, and the marriage took place at 6.15pm.”

All the guests and other important members of the wedding also moved their plans to make the day.

Rachel added: “Everyone came forward for us: the photographer and videographer last minute managed to get there on time, the florist called in a favour and got to the church to give out the buttonholes and bouquets, not to mention all our guests getting ready and changing their arrangements to make it.

“We feel so grateful that our lovely little community pulled it out the bag to give us the most incredible wedding. Everyone thought it was fantastic that we turned it around in such a short space of time.”