For Mum, WITH LOVE

With wedding season in full swing, three brides tell us how their mums played a special part in their big day

- LOUISE BATY

'OUR BUT MUM CAME TO THE RESCUE' WEDDING WAS ALMOST A DISASTER

Tasnime Rotherham, 37, wanted to honour her mum Raziya, 70, but an unexpected mishap changed everything After I lost my dad John to pancreatic cancer when I was 18, Mum assumed the role of both parents. So when I got engaged to my partner Neil, 43, on Christmas Day 2018, after 16 years together, I wanted her to play a central role.

I knew she’d make a brilliant mother-of-the-bride speech and I also asked if I could wear the sari she’d worn for her wedding to Dad in 1993. She’d carefully stored the delicate gold, white and red fabric since then and was touched by my request.

By early March 2020, Neil and I had booked a date for the following September at Peterborough Register Office followed by a marquee reception for 100 guests.

But within weeks, we were in lockdown. As restrictions continued, we postponed until the following summer, swapping the marquee for our favourite restaurant. But in the weeks leading to our rearranged wedding date in August 2021, there was a string of problems. Tightened COVID restrictions meant my hen do was cancelled and we also had to slash our guest list.

At least my outfit was sorted… or so I thought. With two weeks to go, Mum noticed slight marks on the sari hem and I suggested soaking it. However, as we dipped the fabric into a bowl of cold water, Mum shrieked in horror as the water turned crimson and red dye seeped across the white and gold fabric. It was ruined.