Barrow couple rearranged Lakes wedding seven times due to Covid pandemic

Natalie Gaskell, 30, who works for the NHS and Andrew Ireland, 31, a project leader in BAE in Barrow, were forced to rearrange their big date seven times due to the constantly changing rules surrounding wedding restrictions.

STUNNING: Andrew and Natalie Ireland got engaged at Surprise View overlooking Derwentwater in 2019

The pair, who live in Barrow, first crossed paths a number of years ago when Mr Ireland carried a tub of paint upstairs for his future wife-to-be whilst they were both working on a building site.

The couple bumped into each other once again when Mrs Ireland was working at Natwest, after which they began messaging and decided to go on their first date.

"He's good looking and very funny," she said.

"We got along so well when we met so thought why not go on a date."

After nine years, and two children together, the couple decided to take their relationship to the next step.

FAMILY: Newlyweds Andrew and Natalie Ireland with their two children Declan and Elliot alongside Andrew’s son Brooklyn

"We go up to Surprise View, which overlooks Derwentwater, quite a lot and one time Andrew suggested going up and proposed," Mrs Ireland said.

"I didn't see it coming - it was quite a shock. We never made a fuss about weddings."

However, the lovestruck pair never expected having to rearrange their wedding seven times due to the ever-changing coronavirus restrictions.

I DO: Andrew and Natalie Ireland were finally able to tie the knot after rearranging their wedding seven times

"Every date we booked in I wouldn't let myself get too excited until the week before in fear it would get cancelled," Mrs Ireland said.

"I had to rearrange everything all over again but luckily I managed to stick with the same suppliers throughout.

"One of the weddings was booked for November last year and we ended up missing it by three days when that short lockdown was put in place, which was very frustrating.

"Although we had to rearrange it seven times, we never thought of just leaving it - we knew we wanted to get married."

IDYLLIC: The pair said ‘I do’ at Lodore Falls in the Lake District

The patient couple was finally able to exchange their vows at the idyllic Lodore Falls Hotel in front of 20 guests on May 24.

LOVE: The couple has been together for 11 years and have two children, Declan and Elliot

"We always wanted an intimate wedding so that didn't really matter to us," Mrs Ireland said.

"We managed to get married outside which was amazing. The weather faired up an hour before the ceremony, it was a lovely and sunny day. We had pictures taken at Surprise View where we got engaged as well. It was the best day of our life.

BEAUITFUL: The pair always knew they wanted to get married despite having to change their date seven times

"We'd waited so long for it so it was amazing to finally have the day with our family. It was better than what we imagined."

The couple is hoping to go on their dream honeymoon to Maldives later this year.