RESIDENTS of a Redditch supported living facility are celebrating after two friends tied the knot in a mock wedding.

St David’s House and Queen Cottages staff and tenants threw a wedding to remember after a friendship blossomed during lockdown.

Maureen Buttery and Vernon Haden “became a couple” earlier this year and after noticing their flowering friendship, St David’s activity and engagement coordinator, Gill Talbot, joked that they should have a pretend wedding.

The wedding was pulled together in four weeks with Gill calling on an army of local businesses and members of the community to donate goods including table decorations, wedding cake and flowers.

Maureen and Vernon also enjoyed the typical pre-wedding activities with their friends, as St David’s hosted a hen party and a stag do for each.

Redditch Advertiser: Vernon and Maureen cutting their wedding cake.Vernon and Maureen cutting their wedding cake.

On the wedding day, family members, along with 42 of the tenants from St David’s were in attendance.

Gill Talbot said: “We’ve had a fantastic time planning and hosting a mock wedding and all the other activities that come with that.

“It’s brought excitement and fun to our tenants and is still being talked about.

“We are very proud that we were able to do this for our tenants and celebrate something positive.”

Maureen said: “It was one of the happiest days that I have had for a very long time - it has been a tough 18 months for us all at St David’s.

“I wanted everyone to have a fabulous time, lots of fun and a good old knees up, and we certainly did that.”

Portfolio holder for housing services, Cllr Craig Warhurst, said: “The tenants and staff at St David’s should be so proud of their positivity and resilience after such a difficult time.

"They are role models for us all, and I wish the happy couple many years of friendship.”