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Laura Fillery and Jesse Blackford move wedding to Bridgewood Manor Hotel after icy conditions outside Boxley church

A bride’s dream wedding was called off at the last minute because icy conditions outside the church made it unsafe.

Laura Fillery and Jesse Blackford, who live in Sheridan Close, Walderslade, were due to marry on Saturday at St Mary and All Saints Church in Boxley, near Maidstone.

But instead the venue was switched to the Bridgewood Manor, a four-star hotel at Walderslade Woods, Chatham.

Laura Fillery and Jesse Blackford during the ceremony
Laura Fillery and Jesse Blackford during the ceremony

Laura, 25, a dental nurse had longed to wed at the 13th century church in the picturesque village for years.

Although disappointed, she was relieved their big day happened, with the church’s vicar performing the ceremony.

She said: “We were told it could have gone ahead but only with our parents and witnesses.

“It would have meant our bridesmaids, page boys and friends would not have seen us get married. That’s not a wedding. At the end of the day it was about us getting married, that’s all that matters.”

Laura Filery arriving in one of the South East 4x4 Response cars. Picture: Gary Browne.
Laura Filery arriving in one of the South East 4x4 Response cars. Picture: Gary Browne.

Guy Rowe, a manager at the hotel where they had already planned their reception, stepped in.

He said: “We were happy to help out in any way. We had some staff staying overnight because of the weather, so it was just a case of getting it arranged a couple of hours earlier.”

In the days before, as snow continued to fall, the couple put out an appeal for sturdier transport to get their bridal party to the church.

Their road at home was frozen and they feared the country lane leading up to the place of worship would also be treacherous.

Laura and Jesse married instead at Bridgewood Manor Hotel
Laura and Jesse married instead at Bridgewood Manor Hotel

Their plea on Kent Online, kmfm and KMTV prompted a huge community response.

Dozens of people came forward, offering to help them get there on time so the wedding could go ahead.

They had already changed the wedding car from a classic 1935 Studebaker to a 4x4 to make it through the icy conditions.

The couple met through Tinder in January 2016 and 25-year-old Jesse, who works for the ambulance service, moved here in March that year.

He proposed in November 2016 and the couple have been planning their wedding ever since.

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