A bride-to-be, who missed her big day after she was thrown to the roadside when the horse pulling her carriage was frightened by traffic and bolted, has finally had her dream wedding, six weeks after the horrific accident.
Sophie Clarke, a 29-year-old accountant from South Littleton, Worcestershire, had to postpone her wedding on the 13 December, when the horse pulling her carriage was spooked and bolted. The 60-year-old carriage driver was thrown from the carriage which then sped at 35mph through the busy roads of Evesham. Miss Clarke who was still in the carriage with her 56-year-old father Bob, was then also thrown from it hitting her head on the road, she was left concussed, suffered minor head and leg injuries and whiplash. Her father suffered similar injuries but miraculously the driver who was run over by the carriage was unhurt. Paramedics were called and all three were taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
According to her doctors Miss Clarke escaped serious injury thanks to her £2000 wedding dress which cushioned the blow. Now six weeks on, she was married to fiancé Karl Woods, aged 36, at a 3pm ceremony at St Leonard’s Church in Bretforton, Worcestershire, in front of all 50 original guests including close family and friends.
Miss Clarke said after the ceremony: “I’m so happy that this day has finally come. I was so upset last time; it was the last thing you expect to happen on your wedding day. I had a life-changing experience. Obviously I had been upset that the wedding did not happen but it made me realise what is important. It put into perspective for me that all of the fancy things, the posh invites and parties, are not important. The only important thing is becoming Karl’s wife.”
Mr Woods added: “We got there in the end and I am delighted we got through the situation.”
The new Mrs Woods said that she will never go near a horse again in her life and took no chances this time around and arrived at the church in a Rolls Royce. The couple now intend to enjoy a 10-day honeymoon in America, where they will tour Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.