AFTER meeting at the postal sorting office eight-and-a-half years ago, the new Mr and Mrs Holden delivered the perfect wedding day.
Sarah and Lee, who are both 40 and live in Howley and Fairfield, had to postpone their special day due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but they finally tied the knot at The Village Hotel in front of 50 friends and family.
Here, Sarah and Lee tell us their wedding story, in their own words.
When and how did you meet?
Sarah: I came to the post office right before Christmas 2013 to pick up my missed delivery parcel from Amazon. Lee spotted me five people back in the queue as he was working as a postman at the time. He engineered it so that he served me, whereas I was trying to avoid him because he seemed a bit of a loud mouth! My parcel apparently went missing and Lee phoned me from his personal mobile number to advise me when to collect it. He cheekily asked me for a drink on the back of that encounter and the rest is history!
What did you think of each other when you first met?
Sarah: We first met properly that night when I came to collect my parcel and we arranged to meet for a drink in town. Lee was in Manchester and caught a train to Warrington but caught the wrong train and ended up in Earlestown. We met - met albeit two hours late - outside The Bluebell and we haven’t spent a day apart since.
Lee: I knew that day that it was something special and a feeling I’d never felt before. I actually asked my mate not to leave just in case she came to her senses!
Sarah: I thought Lee was lovely but he did keep telling me about his knee reconstruction, so I kissed him just to shut him up.
Where and when did you get engaged?
Sarah: After our friends BBQ in July 2019. Lee was heckled all night by his friends asking him to hurry up and propose. Nobody believed that he had a ring upstairs in his sock draw for six months, so when we got home, he proposed to me to prove a point!
What was the date of the wedding and reception?
Sarah: Originally, it was meant to be June 19, 2021, but it had to put it back due to Covid to May 14 this year.
What was the location of the wedding and reception?
Lee: The Village Hotel in Warrington.
How were you feeling on the morning of your wedding?
Lee: Incredibly nervous as I didn’t want to let anyone down.
Sarah: I was worried that the room and flowers were going to look ok, as I hadn’t seen them yet!
How would you describe your wedding?
Sarah: Lovely. I was relieved that we got there considering we had to wait a year. It was just a fantastic day all round - very relaxed and chilled day - we didn’t feel stressed at all.
How many guests did you have?
Lee: 50 for the day and 75 for the evening.
What did your guests eat?
Lee: Leek and potato soup, roast lamb dinner followed by New York style cheesecake.
Did you have a first dance?
Sarah: We had a song set since 2014 but decided to change because the tempo was a little slow. We actually heard this song at one of our first ever gigs - In Demand by Texas. We both love the song and I have a bit of a crush on Alan Rickman, if the truth be told, in the music video! I always cry as it’s so romantic.
Did you have speeches?
Sarah: All the speeches were great. The groom was super nervous about whether the best men would burn him! I loved the speeches and cried at Lee’s. My mum Julie did a lovely speech too. Lee brought props in a Sainsbury’s carrier bag that I was less than happy about, as a bright orange bag didn’t match the colour scheme!
What are your favourite memories of the day?
Lee: Watching Sarah walk down the aisle with my stepson Arran.
Sarah: Seeing the joy on Arran and Evelyn’s faces and having Evelyn’s cousins follow me round holding my train all day.
Tell us a little bit about your outfits on the day
Sarah: I wore a fitted, off the shoulder dress in ivory by White Rose. It was only the second dress that I tried on but I fell in love with it instantly.
Lee: I wore a blue and white kilt with navy jacket and brown brogues.
Did you go on honeymoon?
Lee: We had two! We went to Edinburgh for a long weekend then straight to Turkey for a week on a ‘family moon’ with the kids.
Why did you want to get married?
Sarah: We absolutely love music and have bonded over it as a couple. We go to as many gigs as possible. Our sense of humour is very similar - we are on the same wavelength and can be silly with each other without holding back. Neither of us have had that before.
Lee: Sarah is kind and caring and a wonderful mum, and I wanted to marry her to cement our relationship, especially now that we are starting our 10th year almost.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us about your day or your relationship?
Sarah: Notably it was a very emotional day. Lee never thought he would ever be a married man and he’s the last one in his friendship group to get married. We’ve been through quite a lot as a couple and us finally tying the knot was the icing on the cake. It was a real reminder that love really does conquer all.
Photography by Mike & Jeff from Day and Night Weddings
If you want to appear in our Wedding Day feature, email heidi.summerfield@newsquest.co.uk
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