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A few weeks ago, we told you all about LEGO couple Fred and Florence’s romantic backyard wedding. Since then, they’ve naturally followed up their big day with a fun-filled honeymoon.

Captured by creative UK-based photographer Chris Wallace of Carpe Diem Photography, Fred and Florence’s honeymoon was a thrilling one. From ziplining and surfing to cliff-diving at sunset, this was a honeymoon to remember!

Wallace was inspired to create this fun photoshoot after the coronavirus pandemic began to affect his business.

“I am a wedding photographer and overnight all my work stopped, I had no visitors to my website, and everything you read was negative. So I wanted to do something with a little bit of positivity something funny people could read and I wanted to use something everybody could relate to. I already had a few lego sets from when I was a child, and pretty much everything I needed, so decided to photograph a lego wedding, followed shortly after by the Lego Honeymoon.”

Wallace turned to previous personal holidays and pictures from Google to inspire this honeymoon shoot. Each image took about 2-3 hours to set up and edit, so he would take 1-2 photos a day for a week to complete the set.

Take a look at what Fred and Florence got up to below:

Heading out in their LEGO camper van
Soaking up the sun at the beach
Getting adventurous with zip-lining
Surfs up!
A romantic sunset stroll on the beach
A thrilling cliff-dive
They got caught in a snow storm!

“Florence and Fred had an amazing honeymoon spending quality time together,” said Chris. “They are now looking forward to replanning their cancelled holiday for next summer.  Florence has been house hunting online and is also trying to persuade Fred that they should buy or foster a dog, claiming lockdown would be a perfect time whilst they are having to work from home, Fred isnt convinced so she might have to work on him a bit longer or until one can be found on a essential weekly food shop!”

If you want to keep up with Fred and Florence, make sure to follow their Instagram page: @the.legophotographer.

All images taken by Chris Wallace of Carpe Diem Photography. Visit his website for more amazing images.

Long Island couple Sara Pagano and Brian Fenley  were meant to marry the first weekend in May but were forced to postpone due to the ongoing pandemic. Instead, they will put their time and money to good use by helping others during this unprecedented time.

“With all of the positive energy we have received from friends, family and neighbors, we want to channel that into an opportunity to celebrate love in a different but significant way and give back to help our community in need,” the pair explain on Facebook.

“Covid-19 has intensified food insecurity on Long Island, and on Saturday May 2 we are putting on our festive wedding attire and hosting a food drive to benefit Island Harvest and our local families here on LI.”

They plan to dress up, decorate their pick-up truck into a ‘wedding mobile’ and drive around their city picking up food donations for Island Harvest Food Bank.

“We haven’t really even though about ourselves. We’re worried about the fact that we’re still having jobs and money and a place to live and food,” Pagano explains. Because they are in a priviledged position, they want to do all they can to help those in need.

People wishing to donate to the food bank but cannot or do not feel safe dropping it off may sign up online. This couple will then pick up the donations and deliver it to the needy. Food insecurity has heightened amid the coronavirus pandemic, making donations even more important.

“These people are just there, they’re just trying to find out what their next meal is,” Fenley said.

“Since they cannot walk down the aisle this weekend, this amazing couple ❤️ Sara Pags and Brian Paulie ❤️ are channeling positive energy into raising food and funds for Island Harvest Food Bank to help us feed local families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We invite everyone to join these would-be newlyweds as they share the love across Long Island in helping us make sure that no one goes hungry. ❤️” wrote Island Harvest Food Bank on their Facebook page. 

Feature image: Facebook / Island Harvest Food Bank

Prince William and Kate Middleton celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary yesterday, April 29. The pair commemorated this special day in quarantine at their Anmer Hall Home with their family, due to restrictions in place on account of COVID-19.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge thanked people for their kindness and well-wishes on their anniversary via Instagram. The post was a throwback to their wedding ceremony on April 29, 2011. In the photo we see the newlyweds in the doorway of Westminster Abbey, after they had just exchanged their vows.

“Nine years ago today – thank you for all your lovely messages on The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding anniversary!” read the caption.

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Of course, more congratulatory messages came pouring in underneath the post, with a comment from Princess Eugenie making an appearance too.

People reported that the royal couple spent the day video-calling their family and having quality time with their children.

In celebration of their anniversary, The Royal Family Channel on YouTube also posted a video.

Watch it here:

Image: Instagram

Everything seems quite uncertain right now. One thing remains stable through all of this, however, and that is love. Not even the uncertainty that cancer brings could stop this couple from celebrating their love and making it official.

70-year-old Roy Wilson, a man with terminal bone cancer, wed his long term partner, Joy Hird, in a hospital wedding. The pair had not seen each other in almost a month. Wilson was admitted to the hospital on April 1 and visiting restrictions were in place as a result of the coronavirus.

The couple were married by Rev Simon Airey, the chaplain at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital where Wilson was being taken care of.

Being diagnosed with terminal cancer was a wake up call for Wilson. The frightening news made him realise that there is no time better than the present, and so the pair decided to tie the knot. However, much like many other stories these days, there was a small hiccup surrounding the issue of coronavirus.

Wilson began showing symptoms of COVID-19, and was concerned that this would be the end of his upcoming wedding. After a negative test result on Friday, April 24, everyone was relieved and things were back on track for the ceremony on Monday, April 27.

According to a post by The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, the staff “pulled out all the stops to make the day as special as possible for the couple, creating handmade decorations and sourcing food.” They even ensured that a professional photographer was there on the day.

Apparently, Rev Airey went out of his way to make sure the wedding could take place. Since the coronavirus pandemic has essentially halted all wedding ceremonies, it was difficult for him to provide a legal marriage. However, he managed to get special permission from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

For all the efforts of the hospital staff, the newlyweds are tremendously grateful. “This has been a long time coming. It’s been a really special but emotional day. I’m absolutely exhausted but it’s been wonderful. We can’t thank the staff and chaplain enough for making this happen for us,” said Wilson.

“What a day. It’s been absolutely lovely from start to finish, it’s certainly been a day to remember for us both. A big thank you to the wonderful hospital staff for all that they’ve done for us,” said Hird.

Watch the sweet nuptials below:

Image: Screenshot from video

The coronavirus pandemic has messed with plans for people the world over, even celebrities aren’t exempt.

Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner celebrate their one year anniversary of being married on May 1. Last year, the pair shocked everyone by tying the knot at a Las Vegas chapel after the Billboard Music Awards. The ceremony was officiated by an Elvis impersonator and livestreamed by DJ Diplo.

They followed up that impromptu wedding with a star-studded, elaborate ceremony in the south of France a few months later.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzetyV7BVll/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Initially, the pair had planned to go back to Las Vegas to honour their one-year anniversary. However, with the coronavirus pandemic, no one is doing much travelling at the moment.

Speaking to James Corden on The Late Late Show, Jonas explained his new plan to bring Vegas to them.

“So, if you can keep a secret, I would say I might try to recreate Vegas in our house. I have a DJ set up. We could do a night club.”

Corden built on the idea, suggesting Jonas dress up as Elvis or even have the Elvis impersonator officiant join in on the celebration via Zoom call.

Feature image: Instagram / Joe Jonas

 

Weddings across the globe are being postponed or cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. One American couple refused to let the COVID-19 pandemic get in the way of their nuptials.

Meryl Epstein and Mike Simmons from New York have been self-isolating in the Florida Keys since March, according to Insider. 

The couple who met through a dating app used another online platform to celebrate their wedding. The couple spoke to Insider and explained what their original wedding plans were and how these were foiled.

Simmons said: “We’ve got lots of friends who are artists and performers, and the idea was to bring a bunch of those people together in our New York City wedding.

“That kinda got switched around when everything in the world changed.”

Epstein explained that the wedding was intended to be casual and non-traditional and that the couple were scouting rooftop venues in the Big Apple.

“We were looking at more of that kind of loungy vibe, looking at different rooftops and things like that. We wanted it to be very New York and very intimate,” she said.

“Obviously our plans had to shift with the current state of events right now, with COVID-19.”

On a holiday to the Florida Keys the couple decided to rather extend their stay and self-isolate from there. The money that would have gone into the wedding has been used to finance their stay. The couple also settled on hosting a virtual wedding rather than cancelling or postponing their plans.

Simmons explained: “It was a decision to kind of rethink how we were going to make this happen in 2020, and that’s when the idea started to come up that we can do it using technology.”

The couple had also discussed the idea of eloping. They experienced the best of both worlds with their virtual wedding: a destination wedding with all their family and friends.

Their virtual wedding also meant that their guest list could include 150 people, over 22 different time zones.

The couple planned every detail as meticulously as possible. The virtual wedding, which was held over Zoom, included a dress code, speeches, live music and assigned “seating”. There was also a soundcheck, rehearsals and a “social distancing photo session” with a UK-based photographer over FaceTime beforehand.

Epstein explained that planning a virtual wedding is just as stressful as the real deal.

The couple made use of Zoom’s breakout rooms as their wedding tables. Each “table” was named after a different location in New York City. The couple had guests spend time together in smaller groups in assigned rooms after the ceremony. Guests were also given the chance to join in on the bride and groom’s room.

A photographer went from each table(breakout room) taking photos and screenshots of the occasion. The couple requested that instead of gifts, their guests donate to a New York based non-profit, City Harvest, which is feeding New Yorkers in need.

Image: Unsplash

If you lose your ring in the ocean, you most likely would be sad but accept that you’ve lost it forever, right? It seems impossible for a mere human to scour the ocean floor in search of one ring, no matter how big the diamond. But for creatures who are native to the sea, it may be a bit easier.

Annika Parkinson-Dow was swimming in Howe Sound off Bower Island in British Columbia, Canada on Friday evening, April 26. The shining bioluminescence was visible, and this led her to run her hands through the water. Little did she know that her  engagement ring had fallen off in the ocean.

When she eventually realised, she was already back on dry land. Of course, she was upset. The ring was an heirloom from the 1930’s. “I was pretty sure that there was absolutely no chance [they’d find] it, a needle in the haystack. I wasn’t even sure of the exact spot that I lost it,” she said to CBC News.

The ring. Credit: CBC news / Annika Parkinson-Dow

Trying her luck, she asked a few divers to have a look in the ocean. They searched for an hour, but gave up as the water conditions were unfavourable.

As they decided they would call it quits, they caught sight of a baby octopus and as unbelievable as it may sound… the little octopus led the divers to the ring!

Scientists have reported that octopuses have a keen interest in shiny objects. So, it may be possible that the baby octopus found the ring and intended to keep it as part of a little collection of rocks and shells.

It would be nice to think that the octopus intentionally led the divers to the ring, knowing that’s what they were looking for. However, it’s more likely that it was a massive coincidence. Either way though, it’s an amazing story for Parkinson-Dow to tell for the rest of her life!

Image: Unsplash

The coronavirus pandemic has postponed wedding plans across the globe for the foreseeable future. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate love!

Johannesburg-based couple Kyle Hyam and Gaby Trathen were meant to get married this past weekend on April 26. However, they were left heartbroken that they had to postpone their big day.

“Initially it was a tough decision, but when President [Cyril] Ramaphosa forbid social gatherings and closed borders the decision was made for us – it was out of our control, which somehow made it easier,” said Trathen to Times Live.

“The entire celebration will now be moved to 2021, when travel bans will hopefully be lifted so all our international guests can join us and large gatherings are permitted.”

Despite the day being cancelled, their friends and family decided to help put a smile back on their faces and still celebrate.

“Although friends and family could not celebrate with them the way we had planned, we decided to ensure they had something happy from us all on what would have been their wedding day,” said Hyam’s sister, Taryn Wiebols.

Friends and family from across the world all sent in videos of themselves dancing to Pharrell William’s Happy. The song was chosen to encourage the couple to not let the current tough situation get them down.

“The song ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams has an overall theme that nothing can bring you down if you believe in the power of love and happiness. We danced to this song in our homes all over the world. We danced in our kitchens, lounges, cars, on rooftops and even in the rain,” said Wiebols.

“This is now ‘Take 1’ of their wedding party. We are so ‘Happy’ they have found each other and we cannot wait to celebrate ‘Take 2’ in person when it is safe to do so.”

A friend in Australia edited the clips together into one fun, uplifting video. Watch it here:

Feature image: screenshot from video

Clare Waight Keller, Meghan Markle’s wedding dress designer, took to Instagram to talk about her experience working with the royal. She also detailed the days as they approached the iconic ceremony.

Keller, a British stylist, fashion designer and the current Artistic director of Givenchy, was – as could be expected – over the moon to be a part of the royal wedding two years ago. After the special wedding day, she showed her excitement and gratitude on Instagram. She detailed what she did at at each moment, and gushed over the experience.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjAIZ5PjVsT/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bi-aVw4jkAs/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjA1kaPjcqT/

https://www.instagram.com/p/BjC85XNjQya/

Now, two years later, Keller has taken to Instagram again to share more insights on how the famous wedding dress came to be.

“Two years ago today I was in the final fittings for a very secret dress. So many emotions were running through me during those months leading up to the big day,” she wrote. “A wedding dress is one of the most exquisite and beautiful moments for a designer, but also personally as a woman artist, creator there is a lot of sensitivity that flows through the process from the knowledge and understanding of the feelings that you have as a bride.”

She said that in order to ensure that Markle’s dream dress was made a reality, she had to put herself in Markle’s shoes. “Learning to let go of my emotions and embrace the feelings of someone you are designing for brings about an incredibly beautiful relationship of trust and intimacy. Through hours of conversation, meetings together, and research, slowly all the pieces of that story came together,” she said.

According to Keller, the guiding principles given to her were “purity and simplicity”.  About the design, she also said that she weaved “a narrative of nature through the 53 florals of the Commonwealth to bring the world into the journey of the ceremony and subtlety bringing the lines of Givenchy and the history of the Maison to capture the classical timeless beauty I knew she wanted to achieve”.

Keller thought the wedding was a very special day, and she was in awe. “It was obvious the significance of this occasion was more than any other, it would be a very personal ceremony with so many choices that would reflect both the bride and grooms heritage and their unique way of being incredibly inclusive, genuine and generous,” she wrote.

Image: Facebook / Mamamia

It’s been 365 days since Idris and Sabrina Elba tied the knot, and the pair seem as loved up as ever.

The couple married on April 26, 2019 in a lavish three-day Moroccan ceremony at the Ksar Char Bagh hotel in Marrakesh.

Taking to Instagram, Sabrina shared a new video from their nuptials capturing the meaningful moment she walked down the aisle.

“Words can’t describe what I felt in this moment. Walking down the aisle and seeing the man of my dreams, my best friend, standing in front of me ready to make a bond that lasts forever,” Sabrina captioned the image.

“You have changed my life, you have changed my world, you have changed my spirit. I thank you for the happiness you give me every day and the love you show me and my family. I can’t believe it’s been a year. All the memories we’ve make it feel like a lifetime. Let’s celebrate today for our future and be thankful for the health and happiness we have. I love you Idris and I forever will. Happy anniversary ❤️ @idriselba”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B_UuK8RjUgq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Feature image: Instagram / Sabrina Elba