A BRIDE who was born and raised in Carlisle returned to the city for her wedding. Sarah Millican moved to York for university after attending Belle Vue and Caldew schools.

Sarah and Andrew (Drew) Hunter met when they worked together at York Theatre Royal and have been together since Sarah’s 21st birthday celebrations.

They got engaged in April 2019 when spending the Easter weekend with friends in Scotland near where Drew grew up. Sarah said: “I think it is worth adding we had already picked and bought the ring together a few weeks before. We were wandering past a shop one day and going in to see what ring size I was led to us ordering one. Even though I knew this, the actual proposal was still a surprise to me."

The couple had planned to marry on April 25 this year but moved the date to November 14 due to the Covid lockdown. With the announcement of a second lockdown they decided to try and move the date and with only a few days to go until the new lockdown managed to organise the church for November 4. Sarah said: “The vicar at St Cuthbert’s Church and Emma were very helpful and with a quick reply to my SOS email on Saturday evening after the lockdown was announced it was all moved to Wednesday.” They also managed to organize the earlier hire of Highland wear from Slater Menswear in Leeds where the staff went 'above and beyond'to make sure everything went smoothly.

The wedding had a theme that was “very loosely Disney”. Sarah wore a Moira Lee wedding dress bought from Bridal Factory Outlet in Northallerton. It was then beautifully altered by the amazing girls at Once Upon A Dress in Escrick. Her veil was borrowed from a friend, Lucie Belgrave, who had forgotten to put it on for her own big day Lucy also “blinged up” Sarah’s Converse wedding shoes. The bride’s friend Adel Currie did her hair and make-up.

Drew’s brother Brian Hunter supported him as best man and Sarah’s sister Amie Millican was bridesmaid. Amy Hodges should also have been bridesmaid, but had just had her first baby three weeks earlier.

The bridal flowers came from Cochrane’s Nurseries, Longtown and Silver Lady Wedding Car Hire supplied the wedding car.

The couple had originally booked their reception at the Hidden River Wedding Barn at Longtown for 100 guests and they hope to hold that next year but due to the current restrictions they had a wedding meal at the Drover’s Rest Inn with just Sarah’s parents and their best man and bridesmaid.

The wedding cake came from Marks & Spencer and Sarah’s cousin Megan Millican will make the cake for next year’s reception.

The couple had originally booked a honeymoon to Walt Disney World in April but had to cancel and are hoping to rebook for next year. They are also hoping to go on a minimoon in December to Lodore Falls Hotel in Borrowdale.

The bride is the daughter of Irving and Linda Millican of Carlisle and the groom’s father is Alexander Hunter of Kinghorn, Fife. Wedding photographs were taken by Emma Stoszkowski of Emma Stoszkowski Photography.