Joined in early matrimony… on Christmas! Happy couple asked if big day could be brought forward

Worried that a post-Christmas lockdown would put paid to her wedding plans, Emma Grainey asked her church minister if the big day could be brought forward.

After nine months on the coronavirus frontline, the 37-year-old community matron feared further restrictions would mean the service – originally planned for yesterday – would have to be cancelled.

She called Rev Aaron Moffat-Jackman the day before Christmas Eve – and was stunned when he suggested that her wedding to teacher Jamie Edmondson, 41, could take place on December 25 instead.

Thrilled by the proposal, after a frantic 48 hours getting everything ready, the couple were wed at Holy Trinity Church in Dobcross, near Oldham, on Christmas Day, accompanied by their four children, Luke, 9, Isaac, eight, Ted, six and two-year-old Isabella.

Worried that a post-Christmas lockdown would put paid to her wedding plans, Emma Grainey asked her church minister if the big day could be brought forward. Pictured with husband Jamie Edmondson

Social distancing protocols were observed, with friends and family watching the ceremony via a Zoom link to the church.

‘Jamie and I have been together about 16 years and we decided to get married at Christmas time to end the year on a nice note given the difficult year it’s been,’ said the new Mrs Edmondson, who works at Leesbrook GP surgery and lives in Diggle.

‘I rang Rev Aaron on the morning of the 23rd asking what his thoughts were in bringing the wedding forward.

‘I suggested the evening of Christmas Eve to Aaron. He said leave it with him.

‘Later he called saying: ‘How does Christmas Day sound?’

‘I was in disbelief – we were ecstatic.

‘I was working right up to and on Christmas Eve and never for one minute considered suggesting Christmas Day!’ She walked down the aisle with her father to recorded covers of a string quartet arrangement of Elbow’s ‘One day like This,’ and the ceremony ended with Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’.

The couple’s son Luke played Christmas carols while they signed the register and the couple were greeted on their arrival and departure by carols performed by Dobcross Band.

‘Rev Aaron has gone above and beyond to help make the day happen,’ the happy bride said afterwards.

‘He is so kind and thoughtful and his relaxed and reassuring persona made the day magical.

The couple were wed at Holy Trinity Church in Dobcross, near Oldham, on Christmas Day

‘Everything just fell in to place perfectly.’ She thanked Louise Bennett, a local mother-of-four who baked and decorated the cake despite the last minute change of date, plus photographer Danielle Boxall and Solo hairdressers.

Rev Moffat-Jackman, an assistant curate in Saddleworth, said: ‘It was my privilege to share in this joyous moment – on the day where Christians worldwide celebrate the loving presence of ‘God with us’ revealed in the coming of Christ.

‘I had the pleasure of seeing that love up close and personal in the union of this beautiful couple and their family.’ In the end, Oldham has so far avoided being bumped up from tier 3 – where weddings are allowed with a maximum of 15 attendees – to tier 4 – where ceremonies are only permitted if one party is seriously ill.

Just four positive cases were recorded in the Dobcross area in the week to December 21, but most parts of Oldham have rates above the national average.