A COUPLE whose wedding date was moved twice scored a lucky break this Monday, as they were among the first to wed at Alton Register Office.

Jessica Warren-Basham and Jonathan Cope were married on March 29, but their journey to the ‘altar’ wasn’t without its hiccups, because of to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and national restrictions.

The couple had initially planned a ceremony at Tithe Barn in Petersfield on August 8, 2020, before moving their date to Sunday, March 28, because of restrictions.

But after a third national lockdown, the couple received notice their second date fell short of the lifting of restrictions on March 29, and the barn would not be able to host them because of government guidelines on weddings.

Jessica said: “The register office stated that in the government guidelines, our venue wasn’t allowed. It was a bit of nonsense really, because it was the capacity of 250 people, and the register office had a capacity of 46, pre-Covid.”

But despite the struggle, Jessica said the couple were “really, really lucky”.

Six days before their wedding date, they received confirmation they would be married at Alton Register Office, with Jessica documenting their wait on Instagram.

Living in the same home, the couple worked hard to ensure neither of them saw each other ahead of the ceremony.

Jessica said: “Jonny had the whole house and I was a bird in the cage in the bedroom and bathroom – I’d never felt so locked in my room.”

They had two cars – a Bentley named Betty and old-style American car – taking each of them to the ceremony.

The Bentley’s name was also fitting, as the couple wed 71 years to the day of Jonny’s grandparents, with his grandma also named Betty.

Jessica and Jonny also paid tribute to their best man and friend Mario Creatura, who Jessica said gave 200 per cent in ensuring the day ran smoothly.

Attended by Jessica and Jonny’s parents, the ceremony was also livestreamed across Facebook for friends and family, who tuned in from across the world.

Looking back on the day, the couple paid thanks to the “incredible” staff at the office who “literally changed the whole day” and made the ceremony “magical”.

They said: “I think the day turned out better than we had ever thought possible – because the register office is so intimate, it didn’t feel empty.

“We had the four people there we are closest to, and we got to spend the day with them, which you don’t normally get to do. We’re very lucky.”