Leeds couple forced to have wedding reception one year after ceremony due to coronavirus

Matthew Wormald, 29, and Katy Wormald, 32, got married on February 18 at Leeds Town Hall - a date brought forward due to the imminent arrival of their 'lockdown baby' Oliver.

> Yorkshire hospitals record three new coronavirus deaths as local lockdown measures introducedAs Katy was eight months pregnant at the time of the wedding, the couple made the decision to book their reception for October 2020 instead to be able to celebrate their big day with friends and family.

However, due to lockdown restrictions, the couple have now made the difficult decision to reschedule their reception at Woodkirk Valley County Club to February 2021 - a full year after the actual ceremony.

> Face coverings to be enforceable by law next week as guidelines widenedMatthew told the Yorkshire Evening Post how the couple got engaged in October 2018 - before booking their wedding for 2020.

He said: "In October 2018 me and my partner got engaged.

"In January 2019 we booked our wedding for October 3, 2020 at Leeds Town Hall.

"We couldn't wait.

"In August 2019 we found out we were expecting a baby in April, so brought the wedding forward to February 2020.

"We decided to have the wedding reception in October [due to the pregnancy] but unfortunately this has now been moved to February 2021.

"It will now be one year since we got married before we have our wedding reception."

> Police federation slams government's 'haphazard' West Yorkshire lockdown announcementMatthew said that he and Katy couldn't risk losing their deposit - especially following the latest restrictions on wedding receptions of up to 30 people.

Matthew said: "We had a small service at Leeds Town Hall with close family and a couple of friends then just went for a meal to Browns restaurant in Leeds.

"We decided not to have the wedding reception in February because my partner would have been 8 months pregnant and wouldn't have enjoyed it as much."

Matthew and Katy welcomed the arrival of their son Oliver during lockdown.

Matthew said he agreed with the latest stance on face coverings being introduced by the government, but questioned why pubs remained open but family and friends could not meet up in their homes in some parts of West Yorkshire.

He added: "I find it strange to think people can go sit in a pub with different people but are not allowed in your house.

"I totally agree [with the government] about face masks but it should have been introduced earlier on before all this started."

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Thank you

Laura Collins