Our wedding day was made more perfect by special announcement
The pair met over the hot coals of a friend’s barbecue back in August 2006, and went on their first date a month later.
And distance certainly made their hearts grow fonder when Jemma spent a summer working in Colorado the next year.
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Hide Ad“We love climbing and have climbed all over the world together,” says Jemma, a childminder from Ashton, Preston.
“We went backpacking together two years after we met for six months in Asia and again for three months in November 2012.
“And we moved in together in 2009.”
When Tarren, an electrician from Walton-le-Dale, Preston, decided to pop the question, there was very little pomp and circumstance.
“Taz proposed to me in the kitchen on his dinner break then went back to work!” adds Jemma.
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Hide Ad“We had a ring fund long before he proposed so I knew it would be coming soon.”
The couple were married four days after Christmas on December 29 at Fisherman’s Retreat, Ramsbottom.
“I had been ill in bed with flu for five days over Christmas and made a partial recovery for the wedding day,” says Jemma, “but nothing spoiled the day – it was perfect.”
On arrival, guests were treated to a “very cosy” hot Vimto, to take the chill off before Jemma walked down the aisle to Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s Over The Rainbow – a special song to the couple.
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Hide AdAnd, during the ceremony, Harry and Tom, Tarren and Jemma’s brothers came up to the front to be witnesses.
“No one was expecting it,” says Jemma. “It made it really special and they both looked lovely in their matching suits.”
Between the ceremony and the evening reception, the newlyweds served afternoon tea in a nod to the bride’s love of clotted cream and cakes.
And, as the pair are not a fan of the usual Champagne used for toasting, guests were given sparkling fruit cider as a refreshing change.
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Hide AdBut it was during the speeches that the new Mrs and Mrs Wolstencroft surprised everyone.
“During his groom’s speech, I announced that Jemma was 10 weeks pregnant,” adds Tarren.
“We’re expecting the new arrival on July 24.”
“So I was battling flu, morning sickness and exhaustion on the lead up to the wedding,” says Jemma.
The pair took to the dancefloor for their first dance – lit by giant letters spelling out ‘LOVE’ – to Gregory Porter’s Real Good Man, which was chosen as a nod to the father of the bride, Uni.
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Hide AdThen it was time to cut the cake – complete with sparklers in it – that had been made by a special friend.
Bride’s parents
Uni & Sharon Kampz
Groom’s parents
Terry & Jackie Wolstencroft
Best man
Richard Livesey
Chief Bridesmaid
Laura Kampz
ushers
Harry Kampz, Terry Wolstencroft, Thomas Wolstencroft & Uni Kampz
bridesmaids
Sarah Eddleston & Emily Aiton
flowergirl
Lily Kampz
Honeymoon destination
Scotland