Your Devon and Cornwall Wedding - Page number 37 - July/August 2021 (Issue 32)

W endy and Stephen first met in 2014 when he visited Wendy’s charity Team Edward Labrador Rescue that she had founded the previous year (www.team-edward-labrador- rescue.co.uk) . “I was with my rescue labrador called Edward at the time and Stephen came over to make a fuss of him,” Wendy tells us. “It turns out that he had a chocolate-coloured Labrador called Chester and showed me photographs of him. I told him all about my work and he became an avid supporter and follower.” Two years later, Wendy and Stephen became a couple after she contacted him to be part of a small team that she was putting together to run the Nottingham half-marathon to raise money for the rescue. “Stephen said he would help us with the training but he wasn’t sure about participating,” Wendy says. “By the end of the first training session, I had him signed up to join us and to fundraise! Spending time on the many training runs, we realised that we had so much in common. He shared my passion for labradors and was funny, cheerful and kind. We completed the half-marathon having raised thousands of pounds for the rescue.” The couple became engaged in their favourite place, Padstow in Cornwall. “We were on holiday with our dogs and I now know that Stephen had carried the ring in his pocket on many of the coastal walks that we did over the week waiting for the perfect moment to propose,” Wendy tells us. “I ended up being in the shower one morning when he asked me! He said he just thought to himself what am I waiting for, so he dropped to one knee and asked me to be his wife! It was almost two years to the date that we got together. He presented me with the most beautiful diamond ring in a decorative platinum setting which was stunning. I was shocked! Stephen had always said that he wasn’t the marrying type but he admitted that when you meet the right one, you just know!” SETTING THE SCENE The couple had discussed getting married in Cornwall in 2021 with their dogs there to enjoy the day because they were the reason that they met. But then, in March 2020, the pandemic restrictions were put in place and their beloved labrador Chester endured a health scare. As he recovered, Wendy and Stephen decided not to wait any longer and set about organising their special day. “I asked Rachel and Sam Bishop who own Trevear Farm in St Issey where we stay on our holidays, to help us plan our special day, giving them an idea of what we were looking for,” Wendy explains. “We were booked to visit in September anyway (Covid restrictions allowing) so Sam arranged the date of Friday 18 th September for us to marry at Pengenna Manor. There was a choice of three different areas to say our vows and we chose the doorway.” The couple kept their nuptials a secret until one week before they were due to travel to Cornwall. “We told our loved ones who would’ve attended if it weren’t for the restrictions in place where only six guests could be present,” Wendy explains. “Our family understood why our day was to be small and intimate and our witnesses were Rachel and Sam who had helped us so much.” On the day itself, the couple drove to Pengenna Manor and got ready there. “Stephen took Chester and Ellie off after I had dressed them in their beautiful floral collars and Edward stayed with me to walk the short distance to the doorway of the 800-year-old private house set in 300 acres of the pretty Cornish countryside,” Wendy says. “Edward was the natural choice to give me away because he was the reason that I set up Team Edward Labrador Rescue after losing my first labrador called Lawrence the year before. It broke my heart when he passed away and Edward came into rescue at 15 months old, a year later, desperately needing someone to love him and I needed him as much as he needed me!” “On the morning of our wedding, the skies were bright blue with not a cloud in sight. I messaged Pirate FM to see if they were able to give us and our labradors a mention on air! Nothing was too much trouble and Lucy wished us well which I found emotional.” -Wendy MICRO WEDDING SPECIAL 37