By Emma Morley

Last updated at 10:50, Friday, 11 July 2008

A Christmas wedding had originally been on the cards for Jessica Grierson and Ryan Ward, but a change of heart means they are now hoping for sunshine on their wedding day.

Ryan and Jessica

It was last Christmas that the couple, from Whitehaven, decided to change their plans. They are now getting married on July 19.

The couple met as friends in 2003 and became a couple just before Jessica went away to study at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.

They got engaged one-and-a-half-years ago when they went for a meal at Zest in Whitehaven before going to Edinburgh for the weekend.

They will be getting married at St Bridget’s Church in Moresby followed by a reception at Ennerdale Country House Hotel.

Jessica, 22, is from Howgate near Moresby, while Ryan, 26, is from Whitehaven.

Jessica said: “We thought it would be nice to have a winter wedding, but realised we wouldn’t be guaranteed snow and it was more likely to rain, so we thought about a summer wedding instead.”

There will be 90 guests at the wedding and Jessica will have six bridesmaids, including her twin sister Hannah, and flowergirl, Ella Stagg, who is the daughter of a friend. Oliver Curwen, another friend’s son, will be page boy.

A harpist will play as guests arrive at the reception and there will be a chocolate fountain and a barbecue.

Finding the right wedding dress wasn’t an easy task for Jessica, who works in human resources at Sellafield.

She said: “It took forever and I looked everywhere. I eventually found the perfect one at Olivia James in Egremont.”

The colour theme for the day is lilac and silver.

The wedding cake has been made by Sue Archer, of Cleator, and Jessica has chosen flowers from The Flower Basket in Whitehaven.

After having an engagement photograph taken by Harringtons Photography, of Penrith, the couple were so impressed that they decided to ask them to do the wedding photography and film too.

And with little more than a week to go before the big day, Jessica’s nerves are starting to kick in.

She said: “I am starting to get really nervous, but I’m sure that’s only natural. I’m sure I’ll be fine on the day.”

Last month, Jessica and 16 friends went to Magaluf for her hen celebration and Ryan, who works on an oil rig, also celebrated with a stag weekend in Magaluf with 10 friends.

The couple will spend their honeymoon in the Maldives.

First published at 21:24, Wednesday, 09 July 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk