Gay London Life | May '24 Edition - Magazine - Page 21
large guest list of 160 friends and family
who travelled from near and far to be with
us on our special day.
To name a favourite moment on
the big day is almost impossible, but
the songs our friends sang for us, the
amazing Martin Fox-Robert in drag as
Maria Hurtz as our fabulous celebrant,
and the personally written vows we read
to one another are all up there.
Getting married was hugely important
to both of us, as neither of us was expecting
to find ‘the one’, especially while hurtling
towards 50! (I know, we don’t look it!) Also
coming to terms with being gay while growing up in the 1980s was not an
easy journey and It’s so rewarding to be able to express our love so freely
Woody and Rich
and legally, especially when it’s not possible in so many places around the
globe. Life feels complete now.
My husband and I are two peas In a pod. Not only are we both lovers of the
theatre, but we are both called Richard. Luckily I am known by all my friends as
Woody, so that made things a lot easier!
We met between the two lockdowns in Summer 2020 (when we were
allowed out) and I moved in with Rich when the second lockdown ended.
We love trying to outdo one another with surprises, which leads us to the
‘Engagement Story’. It’s a bit too long to go into here, but let’s just say that we
both planned to surprise each other, but there were some issues with picking
out incorrect rings and engagement plans were hijacked. However, it all
worked out in the end!
Our wedding took place on Saturday 23rd September 2023, a bright and
beautiful sunny day at Newland Hall, Roxwell, just outside Chelmsford, Essex.
With the help of our planner Tania Russell, we ditched the traditional wedding
breakfast as we wanted an all-day, non-stop celebration with all of our rather