PLANNING a wedding is a big deal for any couple under normal circumstances, but when you throw a global pandemic and the restrictions it brings in to the mix, it can become nigh on impossible.

But Mark Pollitt and Nicola Kingdom from Bishopthorpe were determined not to let the coronavirus lockdown thwart their plans to get married after six years together.

They also wanted friends and family to take part in their celebrations, as on the day they only had seven guests, so they live-streamed the ceremony on Facebook.

Nicola explains, the road to her nuptials at York Register Office on September 12 was fraught with difficulty. “This started off when the country was in lockdown. We were determined to get married, but I was just going to wear a suit and not bother with a wedding dress and we were just going to have two witnesses, but people were just so kind to us helping to make it happen.” said Nicola, 58.

“It was a bit hit and miss at times and we thought it might get cancelled because of the constantly changing restrictions. Like everyone else, we were really quite scared about this virus, but we wanted the wedding to go ahead and it was just amazing.”

On the day the colour theme was shocking pink and gold and Nicola’s mum, Jean Snelling, 84, was able to join them in person. And the bride's shower orchid bouquet was provided by Joanna Keely florist, Bishopthorpe.

Nicola, is from York and works as executive support for the deputy leader of City of York Council. Mark, 63, is a retired member of the United States Airforce. The couple love to travel and Mark proposed to Nicola at the Trevi Fountain in Rome two years ago. They look forward to a big party in the future for friends and family unable to attend due to the pandemic and their honeymoon will be in Iceland as soon as restrictions allow.

Mark has an only son Warren Pollitt and his wife Erica, together with two grandsons Peyton and Reece, living in Florida.

Nicola has an only son, Louis Sjostrand-Kingdom and his wife Siiri, living in Gothenburg, Sweden, who are expecting their first baby daughter this November, Nicola’s first grandchild.

Nicola and Mark would like to thank our neighbour Ingrid Bale for her time and support throughout the planning to completion of the Wedding in finding Nicola's silk, pale gold dress, fitting her unforgettable statement 4m Cathedral Veil embellished with sequins and lace and making beautiful gold, embroidered, heart favours which Ingrid filled with her own French lavender, Dave Burton for supplying his 1928 Austin car as a gift for the Wedding, Joanna Keely Flowers for making the stunning shocking pink Shower Bouquet of Phalaenopsis and Vanda Orchids, Charlotte McManus, Lottie's Cake House for baking and decorating our beautiful Ruffle Wedding Cake, Sonia Schofield Make-up artist for our lovely wedding day hair and Nicola's gorgeous make-up, Nick Lancaster Photography for his really great photographs, Steve Bale who carried out Master of Ceremony duties, Jean Snelling and Tessa Hindle for being our Witnesses and the other guests who attended at this very difficult time. 

Mark’s hobby is fine art landscape photography and his work can be viewed here.

Wedding photography by Nick Lancaster Photography of Ripon, also available here.