A DAWLISH couple have married at Rowcroft Hospice surrounded by close family, friends and staff.

The celebration saw Keiandra Foote and Jeff Coombs exchange their vows after hospice staff helped organise the special event.

Keiandra is currently receiving specialist care in Rowcroft’s Inpatient Unit.

The Dawlish-based couple, who have been together for 24 years and have three daughters, exchanged vows in the Inpatient Unit’s front lounge, before moving with their guests into Rowcroft’s Sanctuary.

With planning and support from hospice staff, the space was decorated to create a warm and welcoming setting for their special day.

Jeff shared: ‘It seems like a lifetime ago we first met. I was good friends with Keiandra’s siblings when we met on a night out, and it went from there. Here we are, 24 amazing years later.

‘We always wanted to get married.

‘Keiandra didn’t want a traditional wedding. She told me, if I was going to marry her, it had to be in Vegas.

‘Our priority has always been elsewhere – spending money on family holidays and travelling with our kids. It wasn’t until we came to the hospice that we decided we really do want to be married.'

The couple chose to keep the ceremony intimate, inviting about 30 of their closest family and friends to share their day.

The wedding was coordinated with the help of Rowcroft’s Social Worker Nicky Monks, who described it as a ‘shared effort to create something truly special’.

She said: ‘Everyone deserves their fairytale wedding, whatever that looks like. This wasn’t quite the Vegas setting Keiandra had in mind, but we could still make it beautiful and meaningful.

‘I’m always happy to be the unofficial wedding coordinator. Everyone really pulls together to make these moments special.’

Jeff added: ‘The Rowcroft team have been incredible. Being able to hold the wedding at the hospice has meant so much to us and it means the world to us to be married.

‘We honestly can’t thank everyone at the hospice enough.’