First couple to get married at Leeds Town Hall post lockdown reveal what it's like to tie the knot in the age of coronavirus

Guests at the wedding of Claire and Warren Briggs, of Pudsey, wore face masks embroidered with the couple's initials and the date - Thursday, August 13.

That date had long been booked and although it was always going to be a small wedding, they had hoped to have a larger reception.

But as it became clear that some restrictions would not be lifted in time, sticking to just a small ceremony was the only option.

It meant some of the quintessential wedding day moments, such as walking down the aisle and the exchanging of rings, were not quite as they had imagined.

But it's not a decision the couple regret.

"The ceremony was absolutely fabulous," said Claire,45. "It was not what we expected but they did a really good job. It felt special."

Covid-19 restrictions at Leeds Town Hall mean couples need to bring their own pen to sign the register, the ceremony room cannot have a central aisle and hands must be sanitised before and after the exchanging of rings.

Registrars perform the ceremony wearing a visor, guests and photographers are not allowed to leave their seats to take photos and marriage certificates are sent by post after the event.

It meant Claire and Warren and their handful of guests had to be a bit creative.

Claire's son Joseph, 11, had been looking forward to walking his mum down the aisle with the rings, but walked her over the road from the hotel they had stayed at the night before to the steps at Leeds Art Gallery.

"My son was really excited to give me away but he was not able to do it," said Claire. "Instead he walked me over the road to where Warren and everyone was waiting at the bottom of the steps.

"It was really emotional, we were quite overwhelmed when we saw each other.

"Then we all walked over to the Town Hall as a group and all went in together. It all went quite quickly.

"When we realised that we could get married but not have a big celebration we thought 'what do we do?'

"But the most important thing was for us to be married.

"It kind of focused our minds a bit more - as much as we love a party."

The wedding guests were still able to enjoy a meal and drinks at the DoubleTree Hilton afterwards.

It is the second marriage for both Claire and Warren, who moved their families in together - just two weeks before lockdown - after four years of dating.

"That was going to test the relationship a bit, but it has been brilliant and the kids have been great," said Claire. "Everyone has taken it in their stride."

Warren has two children from his previous marriage - Alfie, 13, and Alex, 18.

The couple had planned to jet off to Bulgaria, but instead spent their makeshift honeymoon in Oulton Hall.

And soon the whole family will be heading to Robin Hood's Bay for the weekend, where Warren proposed in August last year.

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