A newlywed couple made a round trip of 360 miles (approx. 580 kilometers) to recreate their wedding ceremony so the bride’s grandmother could be a part of their special day.
Childhood sweethearts Will and Rebecca Heppell, both 26, tied the knot in front of 60 guests in a picturesque ceremony in the Cotswolds, England, on Aug. 5.
The pair then re-enacted their vows in a more intimate setting two weeks later on the grounds of the care home in Selby, North Yorkshire, where Ms. Heppell’s grandmother Peggy Dracup, 91, lives.
Mr. and Ms. Heppell, both teachers, met when they were teens. During a romantic break in Iceland for their 10th anniversary in March 2022, Mr. Heppell popped the big question and Ms. Heppell said, “Yes.”
When it was time to plan the wedding, the couple wanted to ensure that Ms. Heppell could be a part of the celebrations. However, her carers at Osborne House were concerned that Ms. Dracup wouldn’t be able to make the long trip to the venue in the Cotswolds.
Undeterred, the couple simply arranged to recreate the whole day on the grounds of the care home with Ms. Dracup in attendance.
After their wedding, Mr. and Ms. Heppell went on a honeymoon to Kenya and Mauritius before returning home to recreate the special day on Aug. 29.
The second ceremony was an exact replica of the first with a “Cèilidh,” a party, at both ceremonies. They even decorated both venues in the same way.
Stunning pictures from both days show how the couple went into minute detail to recreate the day, right down to striking the same pose during their first dances.
The wedding bouquet also included white roses, a nod to Ms. Heppell’s Yorkshire roots.
“It was a really special day and great that my Grandma could be part of it,“ Ms. Heppell said. ”She was overjoyed.”
Owing to Alzheimer’s, Ms. Dracup’s memory isn’t great. However, she could still recognize the couple and complimented Ms. Heppell’s dress.
“[I]t was great, she didn’t know it wasn’t the real ceremony, she loved it,” Ms. Heppell said. “And we weren’t as nervous the second time round. It was much more relaxed.”
Another highlight of the ceremony was Ms. Heppell’s sister playing some of the tunes their grandfather had taught them to play on the piano when they were younger.
Additionally, the events manager went above and beyond to create a magical setting including a spectacular wedding cake adorned with handmade sugar roses.
“It was doubly magical because we were reliving the original ceremony of a few days earlier,” Ms. Heppell said.
Ms. Heppell’s mom, Helen Harrison, said: “It was hugely important for Rebecca that her grandmother should be present to be part of the celebration.
“It was delightful to see my mom interacting with so many people, smiling and laughing, and having all her family around her.”
Ms. Harrison also complimented the chef for the catering at the reception and for serving a “spectacular silver service buffet tea—a grand finale to a perfect day.”
