A bride from Cumbria has shared the heartbreaking story of how her mother passed away on the morning of her wedding, just hours before the ceremony. Nell Cordukes, 24, had brought her wedding forward to ensure her mother, Becky Best, 56, could be present, but Mrs Best died two hours after Nell left for the venue.
Mrs Best was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in June, prompting Nell and her fiancé Matt to plan their wedding in just three months. The ceremony was scheduled at Hipping Hall, a 16th-century country house in Cowan Bridge. However, as Mrs Best's condition worsened, the couple decided to move the date forward.
On the morning of the wedding, Nell stayed with her mother until around 7am, telling her, 'I'm getting married, it's all right if you go.' At 9am, while at the venue, she received the news that her mother had died. Despite the tragedy, the couple decided to proceed with the ceremony, as previously discussed.
Nell described the day as incredibly difficult, saying, 'We came out of the ceremony, desperately trying to hold it together. We were getting hugs of congratulations but also having people tell us how sorry they are.' She added that she knew her mother wanted them to celebrate, so they carried on with the reception, including their first dance.
The family is now raising funds for the Brain Tumour Charity through a GoFundMe page, as they laid Mrs Best to rest. Nell noted that the weather, which turned sunny after weeks of rain, felt like a sign from her mother.
