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Couple whose wedding was postponed three times because of Covid ditched tradition in favour of a skulls and rainbows theme for their big day

A couple whose wedding was cancelled three times by Covid waited so long to tie the knot that they completely redesigned their big day – changing it from a tasteful traditional theme to a rainbow and skull festooned bonanza.

After using multiple shades of Crazy Color dye on her hair during lockdown and liking her look, exhibition designer Alicia Taylor, 27, decided to bin the conservative pastel and grey colour scheme she had originally picked for her nuptials for a rainbow theme to match her barnet.

Telling groom Daniel Rigby, 31, a construction worker, he could now wear the blue suit he had fancied, rather than the grey one she had insisted on, he asked if they could incorporate skulls, which he loves, into the revamped wedding design.

Alicia’s centre pieces were covered in skulls. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
Alicia’s centre pieces were covered in skulls. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

So, 1,459 days after their September 2017 engagement in Spain, the couple, of Shawbury, Shropshire, were pronounced husband and wife in front of 80 guests in a skull and rainbow-themed £8,500 ceremony and reception at Lion Quays Hotel and spa in Oswestry, Shropshire.

After cancelling their July 2020 wedding and postponing again in September 2020 and May 2021, when Covid restrictions meant only 30 guests were allowed, and finally marrying on September 23, Alicia, said: “I originally planned a very classy traditional day.

“The colour theme was dusky pink and grey and it was just a bit bland really.

Alicia and Daniel loved their wedding day in September 2021. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
Alicia and Daniel loved their wedding day in September 2021. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

“I remember I got really mad because Daniel fell in love with a navy suit and I refused to let him buy it because it didn’t go with the theme.

“But after dyeing my hair different colours during lockdown, I decided I wanted to have a rainbow style at the wedding.”

Meeting Daniel on Tinder in November 2015, Alicia only joined the dating site as a friend told her it was a great way to get free dinners.

The skull groom and bride really were the icing on the cake. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
The skull groom and bride really were the icing on the cake. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

But she fell head over heels in love straight away and deleted the app after their first date.

“I’d broken up with someone four months before,” explained Alicia.

“I asked my friend if Tinder was any good and she told me it was great as she gets loads of free dinners through it. I love a free tea, so I signed up and within 10 minutes I got a message from Daniel.

  • Be authentic to yourself - if you want to do something different try it

  • Switch to an afternoon - venues charge less for an afternoon tea and it is still delicious

  • Get married on a weekday - tying the knot on a weekday will save you money and leave extra cash to splash out on things that are important to you

  • It's ok to wait - it may have taken us nearly 1,500 days from getting engaged to walking down the aisle, but it gave us time to craft the perfect day.

  • Do your research - I used Hitched for my ideas and wedding checklist and Pinterest for visuals. If you're going for an unusual theme get some inspiration from wedding sites.

“We met at a local pub the next day and I deleted Tinder that night. He was so funny and we clicked really well. It was an instant connection.”

When Daniel proposed on a beach in Blanes, in Costa Brava, Spain, in September 2017, where they were on holiday, they planned a three-year engagement.

“We put all the deposits down and then the pandemic happened,” said Alicia.

Alicia and Daniel tied the knot after 1,459 days in September this year. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
Alicia and Daniel tied the knot after 1,459 days in September this year. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

“We were forced to postpone in July 2020 to September 2020, then again from May 2021 to September 2021.

“We were lucky as we didn’t really lose any money on the wedding itself, but it was hard to stay excited when we had been planning it for so long.”

Her interest was reignited after the final postponement, thanks to her rainbow hair dye experiments.

The couple had temporary tattoo favours as the duo love tattoos. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
The couple had temporary tattoo favours as the duo love tattoos. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

She said: “I approached Daniel about it and told him he could have the navy suit now that I had changed the theme to rainbows.

“Daniel really likes skulls and he wanted them incorporated into the wedding, so I started planning everything with skulls and rainbows.

“I had already bought the five bridesmaid dresses, which were grey, so I assigned each person a colour of the rainbow, then ordered them bouquets in that hue and had a multicoloured bouquet for myself.

Alicia and Daniel reorganised their entire wedding after it was postponed twice. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
Alicia and Daniel reorganised their entire wedding after it was postponed twice. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

“All the groomsmen had a different coloured bow tie and each table was decorated in a different colour of the rainbow at the reception.

“We had skulls on the stationary and as part of the centre pieces.

“Everything looked fantastic. We had skeletons on the wedding cake and I had a little skull on my nose ring, while Daniel had a skull bowtie and cufflinks.

Alicia had rainbow flowers throughout the entire day. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
Alicia had rainbow flowers throughout the entire day. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

“I used the checklists on the wedding website Hitched to help plan everything, where I also found the idea to have mini golf at the reception, which went down a treat.

“And we had these amazing skeleton cake toppers of a bride and groom. It looked brilliant and I think it suited our personalities really well.”

They even had transferrable tattoos on every wedding table so old and young could get involved with the theme.

Each table at Alicia’s reception was assigned a colour theme. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)
Each table at Alicia’s reception was assigned a colour theme. (The Kensington Photographer LTD/PA Real Life)

While getting married took a lot longer than expected, Alicia said it was well worth the wait.

She said: “After hearing about the theme, some members of staff even came in on their day off just to see our wedding.

“We became known to everyone as we’d meant to be getting married for years but kept postponing.

“It was the best day and I’m so glad I changed the theme.

“I know skulls are more likely to be associated with funerals or Halloween, but they were also perfect and very funny as part of a wedding.”

Find more wedding ideas on https://www.hitched.co.uk/