Rewind - anniversary couple celebrate by re-enacting wedding photo shoot 25 years on

A couple set to celebrate their silver wedding anniversary decided to adopt an unusual approach after lockdown put paid to their original plans.
Sharon and Dave recreate their wedding day photos at Paston CHurch. EMN-200619-095237001Sharon and Dave recreate their wedding day photos at Paston CHurch. EMN-200619-095237001
Sharon and Dave recreate their wedding day photos at Paston CHurch. EMN-200619-095237001

Dave and Sharon Allan, from Werrington, were looking forward to marking their 25th wedding anniversary on June 10 in style with a luxury holiday in Italy.

Obviously Covid-19 travel restrictions have put paid to that and Sharon has also been busy working as a nurse at Peterborough City Hospital, coping with the coronavirus.

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Sharon said: “We were meant to be going to Sorrento, for our 25th wedding anniversary, we had a lovely four star hotel booked, but due to the pandemic, everything went into lockdown, and the trip was cancelled.”

Dave and Sharon on their wedding day 25 years ago. EMN-200619-095205001Dave and Sharon on their wedding day 25 years ago. EMN-200619-095205001
Dave and Sharon on their wedding day 25 years ago. EMN-200619-095205001

The couple instead got the whole family involved in re-enacting their wedding day at home.

“Dave and I met through a friend in 1993. He was then serving in the RAF at Wittering. I was a nurse working at Peterborough District Hospital,” Sharon recalls.

They got engaged in March 1994 and set the wedding date for June 10, 1995, to take place at Paston Church, where Sharon was christened.

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Sadly Sharon’s dad Graham Chestney, a former Peterborough City Councillor and Deputy Mayor, passed away in 1983, so her eldest brother, Kevin gave her away.

Sharon and Dave with their bridesmaid back in 1995. EMN-200619-095225001Sharon and Dave with their bridesmaid back in 1995. EMN-200619-095225001
Sharon and Dave with their bridesmaid back in 1995. EMN-200619-095225001

Sharon remembers: “It was a fantastic happy day, but with a bit of a breeze. We had a dark blue Vintage 1929 Rolls Royce, that took us to the reception at the then Moat House Hotel (now Holiday Inn near Thorpe Wood police station).

“It was as it should be a wonderful day.”

As Sharon, 56, was still was granted annual leave from work and Dave, 55, from his job in IT at Bosch Rexroth, they came up with the idea of dressing up in their wedding finery, inviting along all four of their children, Jack, Oliver, Sheena and William, aged 15 to 23, to experience what the day would have been like for the couple back in June 1995.

Sheena set up a camera on a tripod, to take some family pictures, as well as a few of the happy couple - 25 years on.

Sharon and Dave Allan pose for anniversary pictures with her mum, Betty. EMN-200619-095249001Sharon and Dave Allan pose for anniversary pictures with her mum, Betty. EMN-200619-095249001
Sharon and Dave Allan pose for anniversary pictures with her mum, Betty. EMN-200619-095249001
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Sharon and Dave also went over to their old wedding reception venue as they recall having photos taken in the grounds of the Moat House Hotel. “One of their staff kindly offered to take some new photos with us,” Sharon said.

“The weather was atrocious, heavy rain, but it didn’t stop us.”

Sharon said: “Our children were so on board in helping us celebrate. Jack, Sheena and William cooked and served us a full English breakfast, with all the trimmings. It was such a touching surprise for us. They decorated the house and dining table with 25th wedding anniversary trimmings.

“Prior to our son Olly going to work, he had said he was cooking us a celebration evening dinner, after he finished work, we all went to Paston Church and then Dave and I went to my mum’s house to have a couple of photos with her. Mum (Betty) thought it was a lovely idea marking it in this way.”

Back at the Allans' 'beer garden' - the plan had been to recreate their reception at home in their garden but the rain prevented that bit. EMN-200619-095301001Back at the Allans' 'beer garden' - the plan had been to recreate their reception at home in their garden but the rain prevented that bit. EMN-200619-095301001
Back at the Allans' 'beer garden' - the plan had been to recreate their reception at home in their garden but the rain prevented that bit. EMN-200619-095301001
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After Olly’s meal, he played their song ‘What a wonderful world’ - by Louis Armstrong, a couple of times, as they finished eating and left them with the Champagne.

“Covid-19 may have taken our Italian holiday away from us, but it could not take our special celebration away from us,” said a contented Sharon.

“It was a day away from thinking, and breathing Covid 19, at work and listening to daily briefings, it was just about us, our family, and love.”