THE SMILING faces of these happy newlyweds are proof that one couple had the fairytale ending they deserved after the venue they initially chose for their big-day celebrations cancelled.

Beaming Natalie and Alex Peel, from Elbury Mount, Worcester, raised a glass to their nuptials with Ellen Halpin-Barnett, of Bar Wholesale Drinks and Azolo Tawfik, manager of The Berkeley Arms in Spetchley, at the couple’s wedding reception.

The new Mr and Mrs Peel were one of 15 couples whose wedding days were thrown into turmoil after receiving an email telling them their reception at the Inn at Stonehall, near Kempsey, near Worcester, had been cancelled.

The couple, who have two sons, Kyle, seven, and two-year-old Oliver, were due to fly out to Mexico to marry two weeks before they found out the venue had closed amid a dispute between its owner and the caterers.

Mrs Peel said her reorganised wedding day would not have happened if not for the hard work of Mrs Halpin-Barnett, who called your Worcester News to offer her help to the brides left in the lurch.

The pair have now struck up a close friendship and regularly meet up for a cup of coffee and a chat.

Mrs Peel, aged 30, said: “She is lovely. She came and helped to set up even though she had to get a ferry at 2am.

“I kept telling her to go but she wanted to stay and help, anything she had she lent to me and on Saturday before we arrived she was back at the Berkeley Arms making sure that everything looked perfect.

“We can’t thank her or Azolo enough. The venue was beautiful and we had a fantastic day.”

Mrs Halpin-Barnett managed to organise the new venue within a day as well as a sit-down meal rather than the planned buffet for the same price, less the deposit they had lost.

And she said the experience had left her thinking about becoming a professional wedding planner.

She said: “When I heard about what had happened I thought it was just awful and I knew I had the contacts in the city through my previous career and my husband’s business to help.

“It has been great to build up a friendship with Natalie. She looked stunning on the day, absolutely beautiful. Alex looked great, too. I wish them both all the best.”

Mrs Halpin-Barnett advised other brides to look into wedding insurance.

To contact Mrs Halpin-Barnett about planning a wedding call 01905 745437.