WHEN Stephanie Bint and her fiance Craig Sharp had to put their wedding on hold because of the pandemic, the couple didn’t know if they would be able to have their big day on the date they wanted.

But now restrictions have eased, the pair will tie the knot on August 8 – their first choice.

And it will be the first wedding to be held at St Philip' the Deacon church since lockdown.

Stephanie said: “We always had August 8 in mind, so we are please it's actually happening.

“Everyone gets stressed during their wedding period, so yes it was even more stressful, having to think about how to make everyone safe.

“I’ve had dress fitting, hair trials, all in the same week, but it adds to the excitement.”

The couple originally had 180 guests planned but had to limit that down to 30.

She said: “It is fine because it’s going to be only the most important people that are there for us. So, we think it’s going to be more meaningful anyway.

Stephanie added: “The church works on a one-way system.

"There’s hand sanitiser on the door, the seats are two metres apart, and vulnerable guests will be wearing masks.

“We’ve actually got masks ourselves with bride and groom on them. You might as well embrace it! We’re doing the best we can.”

The two 25-year-old from Upper Stratton met on Tinder in 2018.

Stephanie said: “Craig liked me even though I wasn’t that keen on him. With his patience and persistent, I fell in love with him. He makes me feel secure and loved.

“When he went to Australia for a two-week holiday, I soon realised I never wanted to spend that long away from him again.

"Shortly after, he asked me to move in, and then proposed on our first holiday together in Greece.”

Stephanie said one worry they had was the reception.

“We had to cancel our wedding reception due to lockdown but as guidelines have been eased, we’re now allowed to hold one. So, we're now going ahead with just the 30 guests,” Stephanie said.

She added: “We’re currently waiting on venues to come back to us, nothing has been confirmed yet.”

Stephanie and Craig started to plan their wedding in October last year. “It’s just lucky that between October and February we’ve got everything including the flowers and the bridesmaids. We’ve got all that sorted prior to lockdown.”

They are hoping to go on their Mexico honeymoon a day after the wedding.