A COUPLE saw the bright side of their wedding day with a candle lit wedding after storm Arwen caused mayhem on the big day.

Rachel Johnston,28, met Josh Budden,28, on New Years Day in 2019.

The pair accidentally bumped into each other at The Angel in Corbridge, after their first date did not go to plan, however, the couple decided to have another go at a date the next day.

Josh, of Corbridge, knew Rachel was the one for him, so in October 2021, he decided to pop the question. Rachel, a post office assistant, recalls how Josh, an Audi sales executive proposed.

She said: “Josh planned to take me up to Beadnell, one of our favourite places, to watch the sunrise on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

“The morning did not quite go as he had planned as I kept saying ‘we aren’t in a good place to see the sunrise’. After finally stopping along Beadnell Point, Josh dropped down on one knee and popped the question much to my surprise.”

The big day on Sunday, November 28. 2021, a mere six weeks from when Josh proposed.

Rachel, of Ponteland, had decided not to have a hen night but her bridesmaid,Angelica Bryson, surprised her with one in Yolo Ponteland. Additionally, Josh’s Best man George Bell, and usher, Charlie Harkness, had planned a stag do weekend away in Blackpool.

It was a day before the wedding when the couple received bad news, she said: “After being told on Saturday afternoon that Horton Grange had suffered quite badly because of Storm Arwen and that the power was off we immediately tried to think of a ‘Plan B’.”

Luckily, Rachel’s fiance, Josh was at the Seven Stars watching the Newcastle match, so the couple were able to ask if they could use it for a venue.

The couple said: “It seemed like a perfect choice. Claire Gibbs and her staff immediately came to our rescue and we had our back up plan, Plan B, was sorted.”

At 9am Sunday morning we got the dreaded news that the power was not back on and that it was unlikely to come on. Our Plan B was then in full swing. We still headed to Horton Grange for our ceremony which was absolutely beautiful, the fire and candles were lit to create a wonderful ambience. After a few photographs around the grounds we joined our guests at the Seven Stars in Ponteland.”

Afterwards, the couple were able to enjoy food supplied from Ross Keady who owns Fire and Dough pizza van. The couple also had their first dance which started with Daryl Hall and John Oates – You Make my Dreams Come True then mixed into DJ Hixxy – I See The Light.

The couple said” Our favourite part of the day was seeing all our family and friends come together to make what could have been a disastrous day into the most perfect day we could have ever imagined.”

After the wedding Rachel and Josh were able to enjoy a plan B honeymoon at The Lakes Hotel and Spa for two nights. Rachel adds: “We were greeted with a glass of fizz and a room upgrade.