A COUPLE who were married on the groom’s 60th birthday had their wedding plans changed by the Covid 19 restrictions.

Jill Glencross and Russ Hind had intended to get married secretly at Dalston Hall on Russ’s 60th birthday and then have a party for 150 plus guests as a surprise on the following evening. The couple were going to surprise all the party guests with “we got married yesterday” when they arrived at the party in their outfits with a photo projected on the wall of the wedding the previous day! However although the plans had to be changed the wedding went ahead with a theme of ‘Love and Happiness’.

Jill and Russ met in 2014 through the Denton Holme Runners and on July 19, 2019 - Jill’s 44th birthday -Russ got down on one knee in the 20 Stories Restaurant in Manchester! Her dessert plate carried the message “will you marry me?” written in chocolate.

The wedding took place in St Michael’s Church, Dalston and was followed by a small, socially-distanced Champagne reception at The Andalusian, Carlisle. The bride’s daughter, Abbie Wilson, was chief bridesmaid and signed the register and the bride’s son Matthew Glencross walked his mum down the aisle and gave her away. The bride wore a dress from Catherine Page Bridal in Dalston as she wanted to keep everything as local as possible and hair and beauty were done by the King’s Hair Studio also in the village

John Kukuc was best man and the bride’s best friend Alison Allen was best woman. Katie and Sophie Milligan, the bride’s nieces, were also bridesmaids. The bridesmaids wore dresses from Catherine Page and the best woman’s dress was from Hobbs. The groom’s suit was from Mr Munro in Newcastle. Flowers were supplied by the Lily Pad, Vanedella, Roseberry Floral Design and the Ebbatson family.

The couple travelled in style in a classic blue Rolls Royce and a black Limousine kindly supplied as a wedding gift from Tadu and Elaine Boyko of Executive Cars. The bride’s former neighbour, Kerry Sessford, made and decorated the wedding cake as a wedding gift.

Russ and Jill spent their wedding night in The Penthouse of The Halston Hotel and were fortunately able to go ahead with their honeymoon at the Castello Boutique Hotel & Spa in Crete! Emma Stozkowski was the wedding photographer. The bride is the daughter of Mike and Margaret Brown of Keld Road, Carlisle, and the groom is the son of the late Sidney and Isabel Hind. The couple want to thank everyone for the cards, gifts, support and kindness received.