Becky McClaughry was meant to be marrying her fiancé David Beacom on Saturday.

Since originally writing this, Becky and David have postponed their wedding until next year.

I met David in 2011 and I swear he’s been my best friend ever since. I’ve never met someone who can make me laugh 24/7 whilst always making me want to pull my hair out. We got engaged Christmas 2017 and our planning began.

I’ve always wanted my wedding in the Killyhevlin Hotel.

I’m not massive on travelling and any wedding we had attended in the Killy was always good craic. I’m so laid back I didn’t even want to go and see anywhere else I just knew it was our venue. Picking a date was easy for me, anyone who knows me knows I remember dates and numbers of everything so I was delighted when I realised my mum and dad’s wedding anniversary (April 4) fell on a Saturday in 2020 (any other hairdresser who’s got married will know how vital a Saturday is).

A special date for our family and I loved how it sounded 04.04.2020.

Although the UK hasn’t gone on lockdown yet I know it’s coming.

Like everyone else I’m praying it comes in soon. I’m worried for my own health (bad asthmatic) and for all my family, friends and clients. I know the lockdown will be vital in reducing the spread and saving lives!

Knowing that all this is coming scares me but I know it’s for the best. In regards to our wedding, I know in my heart it’s going to have to be postponed and I’m ok with that. Don’t get me wrong there have been a few tears.

I know I will probably be given the option to cut my numbers and have a smaller wedding but even at that there still would be a risk of someone passing coronavirus on and I feel the whole day would be filled with fear and it would be like a black cloud hanging over us.

How would we even begin to pick and choose who comes and who doesn’t. This brings me to my next point. I know there are so many other couples out there in the same position as us and honestly I do feel for you all but put it this way- wouldn’t it be so much worse if we have to cancel our weddings because something had happened to the person we were suppose to marry or someone in our family.

I’ve been with David nine years I’ll wait another nine to marry him if I have to. Not getting married on April 4 doesn’t change anything in our relationship at all. If anything it will and has brought us closer together. Our wedding is not what’s important at the moment. The health and well-being of our community is! I’m praying so hard that this ban comes in and we fight coronavirus together.

I could play the ‘this isn’t fair’ card over and over again but it isn’t going to change a single thing about the situation! What isn’t fair is doctors and nurses who are preparing themselves for what is going to be the worst health crisis our NHS has seen in years. Elderly people and vulnerable people who will be unable to leave their homes and will be in complete isolation.

No matter what happens over the next few weeks/months the 04/04 will always hold a special place in my heart because of mum and dad’s wedding anniversary. David and I will have the chance to pick another special date and make it our own.

The next few months with be trying and testing for us all.

Especially small business owners like myself. My dad always taught me that you will always get enough to do. So I’m going with the flow. When the UK goes on lockdown I have decided for the health and safety of everyone who enters our premises BMC will also go on lockdown. Scary times ahead. My full trust is in God and I know he will carry us all through hard time.

PLEASE NOTE

It is a tough time for our entire community and especially the business community. The Impartial Reporter is no different. We will continue to break important news on our website free of charge because it is important that we inform you especially at this crucial time in our history. However we also need your support so please pick up our weekly edition every Thursday in shops or subscribe to our page by page e-edition at https://www.impartialreporter.com/e_edition/ so that we can continue to be a voice for the people of this area. Thank you and stay safe.