Coronavirus: Ellie Goulding sings for NHS nurse in online wedding surprise
Written by News on 19/04/2020
A bride and groom got the surprise of their lives when Ellie Goulding popped up at their online wedding.
Hayley Pitman and Harvey Skelton had been due to get married in Gloucestershire last weekend, but the ceremony was postponed due to coronavirus.
Instead, the NHS nurse and rugby coach tied the knot on the internet, watched by family and friends via video link.
Pop star Goulding, who celebrated her own wedding last year, gave a live performance of Love Me Like You Do.
The amazed newlyweds shared their first dance in their living room, as Goulding sang and played the guitar.
The Starry Eyed singer was fresh from her One World: Together At Home performance, where she sang for millions of people around the world in a virtual concert to celebrate healthcare workers.
Goulding told the pair, who had long ago planned the song as their first dance: “Congratulations Harvey and Hayley, you are both heroes and we all love you.”
Ms Pitman, who is a theatre practitioner at Bristol Hospital said: “Despite not being able to be with our friends and family in person, being thrown a virtual wedding by the For Better For Worse team was such a magical experience.
“And the appearance by one of our favourite singers Ellie Goulding was just the icing on the cake, I couldn’t believe it!
“The memories of this will certainly keep us both going until we can celebrate properly later on in the year.”
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, many weddings planned in March, April and May have had to be called off.
Tammy Madge, who runs the wedding directory company behind the virtual surprise, said: “It was really difficult to see so many couples having to postpone their weddings after spending months or even years saving and planning for their special day.
“To help bring a smile back to a special couple’s face, we took it upon ourselves to organise a virtual wedding.
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“With such close ties to the NHS, Hayley and Harvey were the perfect choice for us, and of course Ellie Goulding surprising the couple made it so much more special and beautifully emotional even if we were all sat behind our screens!”
A Love In Lockdown fundraising page has been set up to raise money for NHS Charities Together.
(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Ellie Goulding sings for NHS nurse in online wedding surprise
