A Bristol couple who were finally due to get married this year have had to delay their special day due to coronavirus.
Nicola Chapman and Matthew Stevens were excited to tie the knot this June, after a 10-year engagement and two decades together in total.
They were intent on getting married on the 20th day of the month during 2020, to mirror their 20-year relationship milestone.
The parents, who live in Brislington, had a long engagement while they saved money and raised their three children.
Nicola, who works at Co-Op supermarket, said: "Of all the years we could have picked, after 20 years of waiting, we picked this one.
"It was a special milestone and everyone was so looking forward to it.
"After so long planning it, you just don't expect it. It was upsetting, I've got to admit."
Their pair met at what used to be the Hollybush pub in Brislington, having both grown up in Bristol.
- Bristol Live is looking for local couples whose wedding has been affected by coronavirus, to take part in a special photo shoot in Queen Square - see full details here and fill in our form here to take part
Scaffolder Matthew, 41, proposed 10 years later in 2010.
He initially attempted the grand gesture in the middle of a busy Cabot Circus, much to his future wife's horror.
Nicola, 36, said: "He went to do it and I knew what he was going to say - I said 'don't you dare!'"
After a less public proposal, she said yes, and they have spent a long time getting prepared for the big day.
Like many couples, however, they have had to postpone until next year.
The bride-to-be said: "We were so looking forward to become husband and wife and are absolutely gutted we couldn’t get our day that we’ve waited and planned so hard for. "
Nicola was quick to message suppliers and rearrange the day, after realising how serious COVID-19 was going to be.
She said: "It was almost driving me mad, checking up on the news all the time."
She had already secured a back-up date by the time the venue confirmed that they would have to cancel.
They were able to keep their wedding venue, Arnos Manor Hotel in Bristol, and move everything to June 12 next year.
Their honeymoon in Cyprus later this month was also pushed back a year, but they had to pay to change the dates and make up the price difference.
The whole family was disappointed by the delay, particularly their children who all have active roles in the bridal party.
Their 17-year-old daughter Chloe is Nicola's maid of honour, their 12-year-old daughter Lacey is a bridesmaid and their eight-year-old son Jalen is a page boy.
It is likely that they will have outgrown their wedding outfits by the time the revised date arrives, so that will be an additional expense.
We want to hear from more engaged couples about how their wedding or civil ceremony plans have been affected by the pandemic.
Please fill in the form above if you would like to take part in our special photo shoot in partnership with #BristolTogether, which invites couples to each stand in one of the socially-distanced hearts at College Green, Castle Park and Queen Square.
Each couple will receive a professional digital photograph of themselves as a memento.
