'Amazing day' for Scarborough couple Tina and Damon, who were among the first in the country to get married out of lockdown

Tina and Damon Hotchin wed at Scarborough Register Office on Saturday - the first day couples were allowed to marry again.

“We’re so elated. It’s unreal,” said Tina. “It was amazing, the best day of my life.”

As reported by The Scarborough News, the couple had booked their wedding back in January and, despite ceremonies being banned under lockdown rules, hung onto their date in the hope restrictions would be eased in time for theirs to go ahead.

Their hopes were answered on June 23 when - less than two weeks before their big day - Prime Minister Boris Johnson gave the green light.

They were only allowed nine guests at the ceremony, and their planned celebration at the Escape Rooms, in Vernon Road, which Damon owns, had to be cancelled.

But Tina says they have no regrets about sticking with their original date.

“The wedding was very interesting but it was beautiful. We said our vows and we both cried,” she said.

“The ceremony was about 10 minutes long. The register office is a beautiful place and the registrars were lovely. It was a first for them.”

Their guests consisted of Tina and Damon’s mums, as well as Tina’s son, who gave her away.

“Because we don’t live in the same house, my son had to go in first and I had to follow him in,” she said.

Also there were Damon’s business partner and his wife, and other close family friends including the woman who led the acting class where Damon and Tina met.

They recorded it on video and Tina’s aunt was able to watch it online from her home in Worcester.

Afterwards, they invited friends and family to call and enjoy a socially-distanced celebratory drink either from their garden or outside the gate.

The people living on either side of Tina and Damon allowed a maximum of six guests in each of their gardens too.

Through the afternoon and into the evening, the couple had more than 40 people turn out to wish them well.

The new Mr and Mrs Hotchin are planning a bigger celebration next year when restrictions allow.

A message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

Jean MacQuarrie

Editor-in-Chief