We re-married (each other) in church
Paul and Ann
On their second wedding day, Ann and Paul Smith walked out of church to the sounds of Abba's ‘Mama Mia, here we go again……’.
Paul had changed the exit music without telling anyone as a last minute surprise and there was plenty of laughter amongst the guests.
The Revd Joe Heaton told them, "Marriage is like rock climbing. It’s not just about holding on with grim determination, but about being linked to each other and enjoying the view".
The couple first met when they were only 12 and 14 respectively and first got married when Ann was 18. After thirty five years of marriage their relationship fell apart when the stress, accompanying Ann’s MS diagnosis, became too much.
Sadly, they divorced and moved apart, but "he followed me" says Ann. They began to realise that they couldn’t live without each other.
They decided to re-marry and thought that that would be impossible in church. However they plucked up the courage to ask the Vicar who said yes.
Joe said, "We had a chat about the relationship and I asked some questions about why they wanted to get married."
Ann said, "I was really pleased. I know God is everywhere, but for us to get married, but not in church, it wouldn’t have been the same."
Ann and Paul’s son gave Ann away at St Leonard’s, Ribbesford near Bewdley in Worcestershire. Some of Ann’s family who had attended the first wedding were there to witness the second.
Read more about marrying in church after divorce
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