Jodie & Andrew: Why Wait to Begin Forever?

Date of wedding
 Saturday 13th September 2025

First met
Jodie was at the Crafty Two pub in Tamworth on a busy Saturday night when she spotted Andrew and his friend about to leave, their Uber waiting outside. She walked over and asked if she could take their table. Andrew smiled and said, “Yes of course you can sit at this table, we were leaving but we are not leaving anymore. ” The Uber was cancelled, they got talking, exchanged numbers, went on a date…and the rest is history.

Photographer
 Yvonne James

Sometimes life delivers a moment of clarity. After Andrew survived a cardiac arrest, he and Jodie were reminded of what truly matters. They chose not to wait another day to begin their forever. Here, Jodie answers our questions about their unforgettable day.

Why did you choose Moor Hall for your wedding venue?

While browsing the council’s list of approved venues, I noticed Moor Hall, it was local to us, so I decided to take a look at their website. I was immediately impressed by the brochure, so I sent over an enquiry. The wedding coordinator replied quickly, and I booked a viewing. The moment we arrived, we fell in love with the venue, the grounds, and the overall feel of the place.
I knew straight away it was perfect for our wedding.

What was your wedding theme and where did you get the inspiration?

Our wedding came together very last minute, with just seven weeks of planning, so we didn’t start with a theme in mind.
We got engaged in September 2024 and originally planned to marry in 2028, but everything changed in July 2025 when Andrew suffered a cardiac arrest at the gym. Thanks to a nearby defibrillator and quick first aid, his life was saved—something only 1 in 10 people survive.
It completely shifted our perspective, and we knew we didn’t want to wait any longer. Moor Hall had the 13th of September available, which happened to be the anniversary of when we met, so it felt meant to be.

I knew I wanted pink (my favourite colour) and Andrew found a gorgeous baby-pink suit we both loved. From there, the pink flowers and table décor came naturally, and we paired it with blue to balance everything. Despite the last-minute planning, I pulled my vision together and was incredibly lucky to secure the venue, the cake, the dress—everything we needed for our perfect day.

What was the most memorable part of the day for you?

The most memorable part of the day was walking down the aisle and seeing Andrew standing there, and him turning around and locking eyes with me. In that moment, it hit me that I was marrying my soulmate and that we had truly found each other. Seeing him standing there with his big smile is something I will always remember. I was so nervous I was trembling and he took my hand and held it all the way through.

Did you have anything happen that was unexpected? For example, did anything fun or unusual happen?

We had planned to marry outdoors in the sunken garden, but on the morning of the wedding, the planner suggested moving it indoors due to the cold and wind. We agreed, and as the ceremony began at 4 pm, it poured rain—everyone laughed when the registrar commented on our decision to stay inside. Just as the ceremony ended, the rain cleared, the sun came out, and the photographer captured stunning shots on the now-glowing grounds, with my dress carefully carried over the wet grass.

What was your music choice for your first dance, and why is the song special to you?

Our first dance song was a song called 'I Promise You', by Michael Bolton. I have always been a massive fan of Michael, and this song has such strong lyrics that really meant a lot, and I just knew this would make the perfect first dance song. We were making a promise to each other to love each other forever, that we would be together forever, and that there is nothing we wouldn’t do for each other.

When I listened to the song, I just instantly knew this would be the song I would always remember. It’s just amazing.

Is there anything you would have done differently on the day if you had the chance?

Honestly considering the wedding was planned in 7 weeks there is absolutely nothing I would have changed. The day was the most perfect day. Everything from start to finish was just how I always imagined I wanted my wedding to be. I had the most important people there on the day, I was surrounded by our loved ones and our friends, and everyone had the best time. The venue exceeded my expectations; it was just perfect. I was so thankful and blessed to have had our wedding at Moor Hall, the wedding coordinators and all the staff just made the whole wedding that extra bit special.

Best day ever and that is a fact.

What advice would you give to couples on their wedding day?

My biggest words of advice would be to enjoy every second of the day, and to embrace every moment as the day goes so fast also make sure you have some wedding cake, as I didn’t take the time to have some as I was so busy wondering around talking to guests. I actually never took the time to just sit down and take a breath and take in my surroundings.