Couple who had to cancel dream wedding twice after bride diagnosed with cancer forced to call off AGAIN

A COUPLE who have already cancelled their dream wedding twice after the bride was diagnosed with cancer have revealed their THIRD big day will be postponed because of the coronavirus.

But Joanna Phillips, 45, and Jonathan Metcalf, 53, who live in Huncote, Leicestershire, say they’re ‘still smiling’ – and will make sure their day happens in the end.

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Joanna and Jonathan have twice cancelled their wedding plans[/caption]

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Now the couple face the postponement of their third big day[/caption]

They were initially due to get married in Las Vegas in June last year.

But the couple, who have been together for seven years, were forced to call off the wedding when Joanna was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2019.

The pair were determined to get married, and rearranged their ceremony for June this year.

But in September last year, Thomas Cook, who had arranged all their travel, went into administration.

Joanna and Jonathan then booked to get married in the Dominican Republic in May this year.

But now sweeping travel restrictions have been put in place to halt the spread of the coronavirus, which has claimed thousands of lives across the world.

Joanna told the Daily Mail: “We’d only just got our money back from Thomas Cook, and after all that, Vegas just didn’t seem right.

“We rearranged again and decided to book for May 28.”

Now the couple say they have no idea when their wedding will take place.

A total of 20 guests were due to fly to the Caribbean to celebrate with them in May. The third planned wedding has cost the couple £30,000.

Joanna said: “We don’t know if this is all going to be OK again by October or November.

“The prices have already been listed for next year and it would cost us £10,000 more, so I don’t know where we’d be able to have it either.”

‘WE’RE STILL SMILING’

However, they’re unable to cancel their wedding completely as it won’t be covered by insurance.

Around 250 of the couple’s family and friends were also due to attend a reception in the UK later this year.

However, this will also be re-arranged after the government banned all weddings and gatherings of more than two people who don’t share a household as part of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Despite the couple’s troubles, Joanna, who is in self-isolation for 12 weeks and is continuing her chemotherapy at home, said they’re still smiling.

She said: “You couldn’t make it up.

“We’ve still got smiles on our faces. We’re staying upbeat because when you’re dealing with cancer, it’s all irrelevant.

“We just want to have a nice celebration when this is over.

“We did have a day where we considered whether or not it was all worth it, but we know more than ever that this is what we want. It’s made us stronger.

“I just want to get that wedding dress on and get down the aisle.

“I’ve waited 45 years for this, and I’m going to make sure it happens.”

Under the government’s lockdown, residents are only now allowed to leave their homes for one of four essential reasons:

• shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
• one form of exercise a day –  (a run, walk, or cycle) – alone or with members of your household
• any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
• travelling to and from work, but only where absolutely necessary and this cannot be done from home

It comes as the death toll in the UK goes past 1,000. But Britain’s lockdown is on course to reduce the death rate from 260,000 to 5,700, experts believe.

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