A couple who work as undertakers tied the knot in a ‘funeral wedding’ ceremony – after the bride turned up to church in a HEARSE.
Hayley Owen had dreamed about becoming a funeral director since she was 14 – so when it came to getting married she knew exactly what she wanted.
When the 30-year-old bride walked down the aisle to The Addams Family theme tune to meet hubby-to-be Dave Barker in his black attaire – her guests didn’t bat an eyelid.
There was even a sign at the reception which read: ‘Any Day Above Ground Is A Good One’ along with a skeleton bride and groom on top of their black three-tier cake.
Hayley, who runs her own funeral director business in York, said: “It was very low-key, I didn’t want any fuss.
“It was just right for me and Dave – I had a good idea of what I wanted.
“A funeral-themed wedding is something I have always wanted to do because I’m an undertaker and embalmer.
“It’s not for everybody and I suppose some people might be more interested in clubbing at my age.
“But being an undertaker is something I have wanted to do from about the age of 14.”
Funeral arranger Dave added: “We just wanted something different, it’s probably as far away from a wedding as possible.”
The couple from Moor Monkton, North Yorks., exchanged nuptials at their funeral-themed celebration at their local All Saint’s Church on Saturday (June 2).
The reception at Long Marston Village Hall featured funeral flowers spelling out ‘just married’ in front of a coffin table.
Around 100 guests were invited to the event – but Hayley said some of them did not know about the ghoulish theme but added most of her friends were not be surprised.
Hayley added: “I think my parents were quite excited about it, they are happy to let me do what I want – they know I am a bit strange.”
The pair met through their shared love of scooters more than eight years ago.
She said: “I started riding scooters when I was 14 and we have both got Lambrettas so we met through scooter rallies.
“He actually asked me to marry him over the phone when he was away for the week to Switzerland and he missed me.”
The pair took their honeymoon before the wedding and spent four days travelling the length of the country on their scooters to raise £750 for charity.
They travelled more than 800 miles from John o’ Groats in Scotland to Lands End in Cornwall in aid of SANDS (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity) and the Alzheimer’s Society.
Hayley said: “I believe in putting something back into the community.
“This is a fun way to do it, Dave and I both love riding our scooters.”
The couple say they will take a second romantic break together later in June when they will go to a scooter rally in Oban with friends.
