Plans for son’s christening led to our wedding too
Mel, Richard and Joseph
Mel and Richard Tilling thought getting married would be too expensive for them. But they did want to christen their son Joseph, who has a life limiting genetic disorder.
Mel described how their plans to christen Joseph snowballed; ‘a small thing got bigger’ and they decided that since they were going to get their whole family together for the christening they would get married too.
‘The Revd Felicity Walters made it possible,’ said Mel, ‘as well as Richard’s granny, Margaret, who paid for the church ceremony and made it to the church despite breaking her pelvis three weeks before the wedding.’
The couple got married at St John the Baptist church in Huntley, Gloucestershire, with their family and friends surrounding them. Joseph was christened and Mel’s daughter Erin, who was a bridesmaid, was blessed with the whole family at the end of the service.
Friends and family also helped to make the wedding possible; friends from work decorated the pub where the reception was held, an auntie made the wedding invitations and Mel arrived at church in her Dad’s car.
Joseph, whose illness doesn’t allow him to walk or sit up on his own, gave Felicity a big grin as he was christened. ‘We are lucky to have him and make memories where sometimes others, who lose a child, can’t,’ said Mel.
Felicity said, ‘I had first met Richard and Mel shortly after Joseph was born, before anyone knew that there was anything wrong. Over the months I’d worried and prayed with Margaret as the news got worse, and it was an incredible privilege to baptise Joseph at the same time as marrying Richard and Mel….the highlight of my year.’