A NURSE and a printer have tied the knot in the city’s first wedding ceremony since the coronavirus lockdown began to ease.

Julia Schmidt, 42, married Vaughan Williams, 48, in Brighton Town Hall on Saturday.

Just eight mask-wearing guests were allowed to attend, and Julia’s German family were unable to make it to the UK and watched the service via video link instead.

Since Saturday, weddings of up to 30 people have been allowed to take place again in England.

The Argus:

They had been banned under almost all circumstances since lockdown began on March 23.

The newlyweds had been engaged since last autumn, and were waiting on tenterhooks to hear if their wedding would be able to go ahead.

They found out with just two days’ notice.

Julia, a Martlets hospice nurse, joked: “You don’t need more than two days to get prepared, do you?”

There were many challenges, and Julia said it had been an “emotional rollercoaster”.

Her family would have had to quarantine on arrival, Vaughan’s family, who live in Wales, were unable to attend because the lockdown was in force there, and the wedding photographer had to self-isolate at the last minute after coming into contact with a coronavirus patient.

The service came with difficulties of its own. Guests had to keep socially distant, and the bride and groom had to sanitise their hands before placing the rings on each others’ fingers.

The Argus: Guests had to wear masks, and there wasn't room for everyone inside Guests had to wear masks, and there wasn't room for everyone inside

The Argus caught Julia feeling “nervous and excited” just minutes before she was about to get married on Saturday afternoon.

But, speaking afterwards, Julia said it had been a success. “We’ll never forget this. We had the perfect day,” she said.

“I’m really happy. It was been such a mix of emotions – we were told it could go ahead on Thursday, my family weren’t able to make it over, but it all worked out in the end.

“Besides, it’s a bit overcrowded at a wedding normally – it was nice we could see everything.”

There was cheering, dancing and champagne outside the Town Hall as well-wishers toasted the happy couple.

They had to wait outside before the service, keeping a safe distance before they were called in one by one. Some were unable to go inside due to the cap on numbers.

One would-be guest said: “It’s a shame Julia’s German family weren’t able to make it over, but I’m so chuffed for the couple. Julia looks beautiful.”

The couple are planning to honeymoon in Wales in the autumn.