Co Down nurse describes marrying doctor fiancé in London hospital where they work
by Suzanne McGonagle and PA
A Co Down nurse has described how it was "surreal" to marry her doctor fiancé in the hospital where they work.
Jann Tipping, who is originally from Bangor, wed Annalan Navaratnam in the listed chapel at London's St Thomas' Hospital.
Their families and friends were able to join them remotely from Northern Ireland and Sri Lanka to watch them tie the knot.
The couple had been due to marry in August, but amid fears their loved ones would not be able to travel safely to London they brought their special day forward and got the go-ahead from the hospital's chaplaincy team for a private ceremony.
Ms Tipping (34), an ambulatory emergency nurse, and Mr Navaratnam (30) took time out from their frontline work in battling coronavirus to wed on April 24.
They hosted a virtual drinks reception for their guests - who had champagne sent to their homes in advance - which included their first dance and speeches.
Only Reverend Mia Hilborn, the newlyweds and two witnesses were inside the chapel.
Ms Tipping said: 'We wanted to have the ceremony while everyone was still healthy, even if it meant our loved ones having to watch us on a screen.
"We wanted to make sure we could celebrate while we were all still able to.
"The chaplaincy team worked hard to get permission for us to be married, which we appreciated greatly at a time when so much was going on.
"A date was set within two weeks and we hadn't bought my dress, our rings and other things we needed so we rushed to get everything done quickly."
She described it as an "intimate" and "lovely" wedding but said it felt "surreal" getting married in the hospital where they work.
"St Thomas's is such a special place to us both, and especially to me, having been here for the last six years," she said.
"Now there is an extra reason why it's so important to us."
She added that it was "a nice thing to happen in the middle of an anxious time".
Mr Navaratnam, who has been working at St Thomas's for a year, added: "Jann and I wanted to get married from the moment I proposed.
"We're so happy that we have been able to commit ourselves to one another and that the hospital has been able to support us to do that."