Maxine Arden-Carter and Daniel Turner never gave up hope for a 2020 wedding

The Thornton couple tied the knot on July 31 at the Wedding Chapel, Festival House, the date they had originally booked before the pandemic began.

It did mean several months of anguish, wondering whether they would be able to go ahead, but they did, albeit a scaled down version of what they had planned.

They met at a party in 2003 and found out that they already had links.

Dan’s step dad and Maxine’s uncle used to be business partners and they also learned they probably first met at the age of ten at a birthday party.

They started dating shortly after the party but it took Dan 15 years to propose.

It was Christmas 2018 when Dan gave Maxine a large box tied with a ribbon. When she opened it, there were photos of their years together and in the centre was a ring box.

Maxine, 46, said: “I was sat on the living room floor and Dan was on the sofa, so I looked up at him and said, ‘is that what I think it is,’ he just nodded.”

They didn’t rush into arranging the wedding but began making plans late last year.

“We booked our notice of marriage for Friday March 27 and the wedding for July 31.

“Leading up to this date we were praying we could just get the notice don,e then we may have had a chance of getting married.

“However, COVID 19 had other plans. It was the Friday before when I received a phone call from the registry office to say they were closing their offices so we would have to postpone.

“I came off the phone and burst into tears, just as a colleague came into my office with a box containing my wedding shoes, more tears!

“I felt like it could only happen to me.

“We had been together 17 years and we have been through our fair share of trauma.

“We had been blessed with four children but unfortunately our second child Olivia was still born in December 2005 and our third child Jack was still born in September 2006.

“So after 17 years we finally decide to go ahead and the week we are booked for a notice of marriage, the country goes into lockdown and the world is hit by a pandemic. Maybe it was a sign!”

However Daniel, a car finance manager and Maxine, never gave up hope.

Late June the registry office called to say they could arrange the notice if they still wanted to go ahead.

“Our emotions could take any more and if we postponed the wedding would we just be in the same position later in the year,” said Maxine.

The day itself was a warm, sunny day and they were joined by 25 guests for the ceremony.

Keeping with tradition, Maxine and daughter Eleanor stayed at home the night before, whilst Dan and son Alfie stayed in a hotel.

When Maxine arrived at the venue she was met by cheering crowds across the road at the pubs. They also managed to stream the wedding live to people who were unable to attend.

They hope to organise a blessing and a party next year on their anniversary, if restrictions allow.

They added: “Although, the day was not what we had planned we are finally married and that what matters most to us as a family.”

PHOTOS: Colin Daniels Photography https://www.facebook.com/Pipemoke/ https://www.instagram.com/pipemoke/

Those who made the day special:

Bride’s mum: Linda Arden

Groom’s mum: Susan Smith

Honeymoon: Centre Parcs

Photographer: Colin Daniels from Blackpool

Best man: Alfie Arden-Turner

Chief bridesmaid: Eleanor Arden-Turner

Flowers: House of Flowers Thornton

Bride’s Dress: Lulla Ella Bride’s Blackpool

Suits: Moss Bros Fleetwood