Pier vows to save couple’s wedding plans
A Weston-super-Mare couple who thought they had lost their dream of being married this year WILL be exchanging vows after all – thanks to a top tourist attraction.
Hannah Kellow and Ian Stone had paid for a wedding at the resort’s Grand Atlantic Hotel, which was originally due to have taken place in April.
The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic meant that the couple’s big day was postponed until September.
But then, on May 22, they learned that the company which owned the hotel had gone into administration, and their wedding dream had become a nightmare.
The couple had been engaged for four years and had spent some saving and planning for their big day.
Hannah said: “I couldn’t believe it. It took us years to finally get here and then it was taken away in the blink of an eye. It was just devastating.”
But friends and family members were determined to rally round.
Lorraine Young, a friend and work colleague of Hannah at Mendip Green Primary School in Weston, said: “Hannah is a very special person who will do anything for anybody.
“At school she works so hard. We have got such a good community at school that I knew that my colleagues would want to do something for Hannah.”
A Just Giving page was set up and within days, more than £2,000 had been raised.
Lorraine said: “I contacted the Grand Pier, not asking for anything but just to see if we could arrange another date for Hannah to have her wedding on the Pier.
“The Pier said they would like to fund the whole day for her. I was blown away and moved me to tears.”
Ian said: “The kindness shown by everyone has been overwhelming and unbelievable.”
Hannah added: “It is amazing. It is going to be such an incredible day, I can’t wait.”
The couple are now set to be married in September and, because of the Grand Pier’s generous offer, the money raised on the Just Giving page is going to be used to pay for a honeymoon and the remainder will be donated to the school.
