Tickencote's church hosts its final wedding

A bake-off contest, a tin of corned beef and a Morris dancing troupe all featured in the last ever wedding to take place at a village church.

Newly-weds Ged and Jay Walker had the time of their lives as they made their vows at St Peter’s Church in Tickencote on Saturday.

Theirs was the final service to take place there before the church closes.

Ged said: “It was very special to know ours was the last wedding to take place in the church. It’s quite an honour.”

The couple met 14 months ago in Nottingham and within a matter of weeks knew their relationship was meant to be.

They spent six months planning the wedding with some unusual features.

The ceremony was conducted by the Reverend Don McGarrigle who is also in charge of the church at Great Casterton which the couple attend.

The service was followed by a party in the couple's garden with plenty of surprises for the guests.

Jay, 60, said: “The service was important to us but after that we wanted it to be fun, fun fun for the whole day."

The couple took part in their own bake off contest. Each of them baked a wedding cake and guests were asked to vote for their favourite - with Jay’s a resounding winner.

The couple also handed out raffle tickets as wedding favours with winners taking home anything from a hamper to a tin of corned beef.

Their final surprise was to hit the dance-floor in 1940s costume for a Strictly Come Dancing contest before inviting guests to join them for the Charleston.

Ged, 66, said: "It was a lot of fun.

"The florist has even started calling us Weird and Quirky!"

Following the celebrations on Saturday the newly-weds will be spending time with family in Norfolk before taking their new camper van to France for a honeymoon.

The couple share a love of boating and gardening and are also active members of the church.

Ged is chairman of Peterborough Sailability and will continue to take disabled sailors out on the water twice a week.

Jay has recently recovered from breast cancer and reconstructive surgery. She hopes to train as a counsellor to help others facing the illness.