Couple’s surprise street wedding

Phil Richmond, 27, and bride Allie Lawton, 25, were amazed when neighbours on their street held a social distancing wedding for them instead.

The couple, who have two children, Lily, four, and Ben, two, had booked a ceremony at The Engine Shed in Wetherby before the venue was forced to close its doors.

Allie’s parents - Judy and Steve Lawton - secretly arranged the alternative wedding party and the whole street of Foxhill joined in.

Neighbours wore suits and dresses, played the song the couple had chosen as their first dance and even sprayed confetti on them as they walked down the ‘aisle’.

Allie, a dance teacher with Danceology who also runs her own cake company, said: “We had got dressed up and planned to do a ‘home wedding’ with teddies and the kids. We had no idea my parents and neighbours had been in touch.

“When we walked outside to collect a bottle of bubbly our first dance music was playing.

“The whole street had put on their wedding outfits and decorated their houses. As we walked down the street, keeping our social distance, they fired confetti cannons into the air.

“On top of all of this there was a gift for us and our children left on our drive. It turned a sad day into the best day.

“I would really like my parents and our amazing street to show other couples that you can still celebrate at home during what should have been the best day of your life.”

The couple, who had been planning the wedding since December 2018, are looking at August as a new wedding date.