Southsea couple celebrate wedding at Clarence Parade

Although restrictions remain in place for the foreseeable future at weddings, it has not stopped countless couples starting their ‘forever’ together – and Russell Oastler and Tilly Hetherington are no exception.

Married on September 10, 2020, at Portsmouth Register Office, it was a day Russell and Tilly will never forget.

Their love story began more than a decade ago when Tilly was searching for a place to live in the city.

Tilly, 31, says: ‘I had just finished university and I am originally from the midlands.

‘Russell had his flat on the seafront and I moved in. I was 21 and he was 29. I guess it’s quite unorthodox really.

‘I moved to Portsmouth for university in 2007 and I wanted to stay here and not go back to the midlands - like a lot of people really,’ she says, laughing.

‘It was clear we got on.’

Fast forward to 2015 and the couple were moving into Russell’s parents’ house to save for their Southsea home, which they bought in 2017.

‘He proposed on Christmas Eve 2018 and we were walking our dog, Gus, on Eastney beach,’ says Tilly, smiling.

‘We had talked about it before. With Russell working in the industry we always knew it would be an eventuality. We would talk about weddings all the time.’

Unbeknown to Tilly, Russell – who owns Bride and Zoom Wedding Films – travelled to Brighton during December 2018 to find his future wife ‘a beautiful vintage ring’.

Russell, 39, explains: ‘Tilly is quite traditional and always said she wanted me to ask her dad for his permission before I proposed.

‘Her dad lived in the midlands but was driving down on Christmas Eve so it was a bit of a mad dash to ask him. I drove up the motorway to where he was staying and ambushed him as he got out of the car.

‘Then I had to drive back home and really persuade Tilly to come on a dog walk because it was very foggy and rainy.’

‘It was lovely. I’m not one of those people who likes a big show,’ adds Tilly.

The couple had always planned to have an intimate ceremony first and then a larger party afterwards for their wider circle of friends and family to enjoy. Covid-19 restrictions played havoc with the latter, but it didn’t stop Tilly and Russell going ahead with the former.

Tilly, who works in recruitment, explains: ‘We went ahead with our date of September 10 at Portsmouth Register Office and planned to have our party two days later on September 12 with 80-85 people, but that had to be postponed.

‘We went ahead with the little legal ceremony and originally invited 16 guests. But because the register office had room to do the two metres, they had to comply meaning we had to whittle down to 12 guests.

‘Sadly both of our best friends’ and their partners couldn’t come in.

‘All of our guests had to wear face masks but Russell and I did not. Also our photographer could only stand in one place the whole time.

‘We really leaned into the whole face mask thing and made it funny. We love the pictures,’ she adds, grinning.

The couple met their photographer, Angela Ward-Brown, at a wedding fair and they ‘instantly clicked’.

Russell adds: ‘Working in the industry, I wanted to remove myself from it so I let Tilly choose the photographer.

‘I have a lot of friends in the industry but didn’t want to choose one because I felt I had to so Tilly found Angela on Instagram. We met her at a wedding fair and loved her. We are so, so happy with the pictures.’

After their wedding at the register office, Russell surprised Tilly with a trip to Clarence Pier in a classic, vintage Fiat.

Tilly says: ‘Russell organised the Fiat – because I have one and love it.’

‘We went down there the week before but realised they were only open on the weekends,’ explains Russell.

‘I asked on Facebook if anyone had any contacts down there and I managed to get hold of the managers who said they would open it up for us for one hour. They were so great.

‘It was so much fun and they have invited us back to go on the VIP ferris wheel,’ he adds, laughing.

Tilly and Russell have no regrets about their wedding, despite the restrictions. Now they are planning their honeymoon and looking forward to celebration number two when the pandemic allows.

Russell says: ‘For me, my highlight was seeing Tilly walk down the aisle with her dad.

‘I think mine is my dad’s speech. He is my favourite person and it was really nice for me,’ adds Tilly.

Pictures by Angela Ward-Brown, angelawardbrown.com.