The bridesmaid ban: how the Home Office tarnished a British citizen’s big day – and cost them £2,000

Everything was in place for Andrea’s dream celebration in Barbados. Then her close friend was denied the right to walk across a British airport to board a connecting flight

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eddings can be complicated to organise, especially when the venue is more than 4,000 miles from home. But Andrea, a Londoner, was confident she and her partner, Josh, had thought of everything when they planned their dream wedding in Barbados for the beginning of May.

The British couple – Andrea of Nigerian and Josh of Bajan heritage – booked a stunning venue, with tropical gardens and spectacular views.

Invitations were sent out to 170 guests from the UK, Nigeria and Barbados, with pre-wedding parties and a black-tie ceremony bringing together generations of far-flung family and friends.