Derry couple mark special day as wedding in the sun postponed due to COVID-19

Emma McKinney (29) and James Boyd (30) from the Waterside were due to tie the knot in Spain on Friday past in front of their relatives and friends.

But, like many other couples across the world, they have had to postpone their marriage as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown and travel restrictions across Europe.

However, even the stormy weather at home on Friday couldn’t stop James and Emma, who is RCN NI Nurse of the Year and a key worker in children’s mental health, marking the day in their own special way.

Emma told the Journal: “We were supposed to be in Malaga this week. We had the wedding booked from over a year ago, and there was to be 130 people coming out from Derry.

“We had everything sorted, we were all packed and had the holiday clothes ready, being very organised, but now we have pushed everything back a year to next May.

“Everyone was so understanding, we are really lucky. We have wedding planners out there and they were so good and were able to rebook everything for 2021, all the suppliers, the music and wee bits and bobs, we just had to change the day.”

While the couple now have another year to wait, what would have been their big day was still very special for them. Speaking before the event on Friday, Emma explained: “We are going to be able to see my parents on the day and James’ parents too. We will be social distancing and staying out in the garden.

“It will be great because I haven’t seen them in a while because of the current situation, and James and I don’t live together - I work and live in Belfast and he lives and works in Derry. James was with me in lockdown in Belfast for a while but he is back at work in Derry now. It’s great that the restrictions have eased slightly now and we are able to see each other and do this.”

Determined to feel special on what was to be her wedding day, Emma ensured they were dressed to impress and not even the storm on Friday could dampen spirits as they had a marquee for Emma and her parents, Aidan and Deirdre McKinney, and James and his parents, Robbie and Kathleen Boyd, to shelter under.

Emma said she is just grateful they were able to mark the occasion.

“I’m getting to see them and it is going to be a story to tell in years to come about our wedding.”

Emma is just hoping that the situation with COVID will improve over the coming weeks to allow for a further easing of restrictions as there is another very special date coming up in her calendar.

“I’m praying it eases for my 30th birthday at the end of June. I don’t mind about not going out to bars or anything like that, but it would just be great to see people and have that connection.

“I was just saying this week that there are aspects of this current way of life that I hope we don’t lose sight of - the world was so fast before this we were losing connections.

“We always took for granted being able to be with each other, to see your loved ones and if you can’t do that it is really, really difficult.

“Something seems to be telling us to slow down and people are realising the importance of those connections.”

And by the time May 2021 comes round, James and Emma’s wedding is bound to be all the more special as everyone should be able to reconnect by then. “I think by then it will be safe to travel and everybody will be ready to go and celebrate with us as we are all missing out this year,” she said.