The wedding that nearly didn’t happen!

The wed­ding that nearly didn’t hap­pen… shown here, hap­pen­ing.

Remem­ber vol­canic ash? The UK skies were empty of air traf­fic for days, news reports showed us hol­i­day­mak­ers and UK trav­ellers stranded in air­ports across the world, and no one knew quite what to make of the sit­u­a­tion. Would it ever end? More to the point, what has it got to do with wed­dings, or are you on the wrong blog?

Stu­art and Ann-Marie made head­line news around the world as we all waited with bated breath to hear if Stu­art, stranded 3,500 miles from home in India because of the vol­canic ash cloud, would make it to the altar on time. Ann-Marie was at home near Man­ches­ter, des­per­ately try­ing to help her groom-to-be get back for their wed­ding. Her Face­book group, “Get the Groom to the Wed­ding!! — HELP!” still has 337 members.

Wed­ding pho­tog­ra­pher Andy McDon­ald was also stuck in India, try­ing to find his own way home in time to take the offi­cial pho­tos of the wedding.

For­tu­nately Stu­art man­aged to get home in stages, with a flight from India to Israel, then on to Madrid and via coach to the UK. He made it back with 3 days to spare, quickly fol­lowed by Andy land­ing in Man­ches­ter 2 days before the wedding.

“I’m so pleased to have these pic­tures of the wed­ding to show you — it was a glo­ri­ous day, and there were smiles all round, of course! Ann-Marie told the Man­ches­ter Evening News, “It was just an amaz­ing day. The wed­ding might never have hap­pened and there was such a height­ened state of excite­ment. Every­one was so happy and the weather was per­fect. I’m just so happy. It was the best day of my life.”

Stu­art said: “It’s been a fan­tas­tic adven­ture and it was a great relief to get home. There were a few tears when I finally made it back. But the jour­ney did give me a chance to re-write my wed­ding speech. I said it was a week that I’ll always remem­ber and that my wife will never let me forget.”

Any­one want to see some lovely happy pho­tos of the wed­ding that nearly didn’t happen?…

Stu­art spruces up after his adven­ture, ready for the wed­ding day. Look­ing great!

One very happy bride-to-be! Ann-Marie is beautiful.

Ann-Marie forms a beau­ti­ful fem­i­nine sil­hou­ette in her wed­ding dress

I love the tra­di­tional style of this photo — the paint­ings and shad­owy stair­case. Ann-Marie’s dress is gor­geous, really unusual with lovely rose fab­ric embellishments.

The vicar says a last quick prayer that every­one will arrive on time (great photo!)

A quick chat with the vicar: “Yes, we’re both here. Tell him thanks for the mir­a­cle. Much appre­ci­ated.”

And here it is — the wed­ding that nearly didn’t hap­pen. A sense of relief is in the air! (Stu­art directs a quick thank you to the guy upstairs)

“Can’t believe my luck!”, says Stu­art, grin­ning from ear to ear

Ann-Marie is so happy in every photo! The lay­ers and lay­ers of fab­ric look won­der­ful here.

A great por­trait of the bride and groom. So pretty, and so happy.

Happy they made it — this bril­liant photo sums up the spirit of the wed­ding day!

An emo­tional pic­ture of Ann-Marie — what wed­dings are all about.

Clas­sic con­fetti shot

Ann-Marie and Stu­art, hap­pily mar­ried! Congratulations.

Table dec­o­ra­tions — pretty in pink

Lus­cious reds and pinks dec­o­rate the wed­ding tables. Ann-Marie spent 18 months plan­ning the wed­ding and it looks just perfect.

This stun­ning pair belong together.

Ann-Marie and Stu­art — a fan­tas­tic look­ing cou­ple and this is my favourite pic­ture. Gorgeous.

Time for the bride and groom to let their hair down

The hap­pi­est first dance ever!

I don’t think Stuart’s stopped smil­ing since he stepped off the coach!

And they all lived hap­pily ever after.

Huge thanks to Andy of McDon­ald Pho­tog­ra­phy for shar­ing his story and of course the pho­tographs of the wed­ding with us. It’s great to fea­ture a wed­ding with such a great story — and a happy end­ing of course!

See more won­der­ful pho­tos on Andy’s wed­ding pho­tog­ra­phy blog (speeches, lots of happy and relieved expressions!)