When the government announced late on Saturday afternoon that London was going into tougher, new Tier 4 restrictions, it was “quite a blow” for bride-to-be Debbie Waterman.

She and fiancé James Buckman had been due to marry at Borehamwood and Elstree United Synagogue on Sunday. But the latest move to curb the virus had thrown things into uncertainty.

The couple had got engaged during lockdown in May after knowing each other for three years. They had already had to revise plans more than once and Ms Waterman was “pretty insistent it had to happen this year”.

They were told by BES’s Rabbi Alex Chapper that under the new rules, weddings could take place only in exceptional circumstances and with a maximum of six present. With the only option to marry on Saturday evening before the new rules came into effect, they seized the opportunity.

There were barely three hours to prepare for the 9.30pm start. “My mum and my friend who live in Essex had to come with my dress on the M25,” she said. The hairdresser wife of a friend of the groom offered to do her hair. “My make-up artist couldn’t get there so I had to do my own. By the time my mother and friend arrived, I had an hour to get ready.”

When the couple began planning the day back in September, 30 people were allowed at a wedding ceremony. They had to whittle it down to 15 as new restrictions came in.

In the event, all the intended guests were able to make it. But as the chupah had not been set up, four of the groom’s friends had to stand with a tallit over poles.

“It was magical,” she said. “It was atmospheric and even though we had to be careful and social distance, it was much more intimate because James’s friends held the chupah on poles. What we ended up having was so much better than what we may have had on the Sunday.”

Their videographer had not been sure if he could reach the venue as he was doing a barmitvah. But he was able to get there in time to stream the ceremony to her family in Israel.

Mr Buckman, a driving instructor who celebrated his 37th birthday on Monday, and his new wife, 38, a human resources adviser, had planned to have photos and spend their first married day together at the Grove Hotel in Watford.

But after the ceremony, they were content to go home and cut their cake.

“In the end, it was not about a big day and all the fancy stuff — we wanted to be married. Everyone was so supportive, especially with the last-minute changes. Rabbi Chapper, the chairman of the synagogue and everyone moved heaven and earth to make it happen.”

Jamie Collins and Chloe Martin also beat the Tier 4 deadline to marry at Edgware United Synagogue. Edgware’s Rabbi David Lister said: “With a massive effort from all concerned, we had the bride and groom under a decorated chupah at 10pm.”