Our Knutsford wedding: A high-vis proposal 26 years year after first date

It was a day full of emotion as Joanne’s father Don passed away just six days before the wedding.

Joanne is currently on dialysis and the organ donor list waiting for a new kidney after the kidney donated by her now husband Michael stopped functioning 18 months after the transplant.

Here Joanne and Michael, who are both 45 and live in Ollerton, share their wedding story, in their own words.

The new Mr and Mrs

When and how did you meet?

Joanne: In Ireland as Mick is Irish. I was working with horses near his hometown of Wicklow.

What did you think of each other when you first met?

Joanne: I thought he seemed a nice lad and vice versa. We met on a night out.

Where and when did you get engaged?

Michael: We got engaged 26 years later at home. I got down on one knee, in my high vis working clothes.

Joanne: Mick showered me with gifts – champagne, perfume and a ring.

What was the date of the wedding and reception?

Michael: We got married on Thursday, July 14

Joanne and Michael exchanging their wedding vows

What was the location of the wedding and reception?

Michael: Larkspur Lodge in Bexton

How were you feeling on the morning of your wedding?

Joanne: Excited!

How would you describe your wedding?

Joanne: It was an Irish themed wedding with a country vibe. We had an Irish fiddle player throughout the day.

Larkspur Lodge in Bexton was the perfect location for a wedding

How many guests did you have?

Michael: We had 70 guests.

What did your guests eat?

Michael: A sharing plater of hot meats, including steak, chicken, sausages, breads and dips, followed by sticky toffee pudding. In the evening we had fish and chip boxes.

Did you have a first dance?

Joanne: We had Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls – it’s a favourite of ours.

Did you have speeches?

Joanne: The speeches were fabulous - funny and heartfelt. I lost my dad Don six days before the wedding.

What are your favourite memories of the day?

Joanne: Everything was perfect - the weather, friends and family dancing to the fiddle player all night.

Guests were entertained by a fiddle player throughout the night

Tell us a little bit about your outfits on the day?

Joanne: A fit and flare traditional lace dress with a train. It was the first dress I tried on. I tried four more and settled for the first. Mick was in dark grey tails with light grey check tweed and an emerald tie and pocket square, the same as the two best men and ushers.

Are you going on honeymoon?

Joanne: Due to dialysis commitments, I can’t go away for more than three days so several weekends have been booked including The Cranleigh Boutique in Bowness and Shrigley Hall Spa – both were generous wedding presents.

Why did you want to get married?
Joanne: Mick donated a kidney to me in 2017 but unfortunately it failed 18 months later, so I’m back on the transplant list. We laugh every day even when things aren't going to plan. We were made for each other.

Photography by Arnold Photography, Goostrey

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