THERE was a celebration of marriage at a Forest church over the Bank Holiday weekend, with wedding dresses the centre of attention. 

Two dozen wedding dresses went on display at St Mary the Virgin Church in English Bicknor as part of a festival – but villagers didn’t stop there with several renewing their vows at a special service on  

Sunday afternoon (May 26). 

The idea for the festival came from parishoners Jan and John Furnival who got the idea while on holiday in Northern Ireland. 

John  said: “We were in Londonderry and it was a very hot day so we went into a church to get some shelter and they had a wedding dress festival. 

“We thought that was something we could in Bicknor.” 

Following a meeting of the paraochial church council in September, 30 local women were contacted inviting them to take part in the wedding dress festival. 

Jan said: “It is quintessentially ladies of the parish, it’s Christchurch and English Bicknor and we ended up with 24 – the majority of people who have taken part all know each other. 

“It’s about people coming into church, meeting each other and enjoying looking at everybody’s dresses and we’ve had some wonderful feedback. 

“It’s not something we would like to repeat in the near future but I think other places could learn from this as a really lovely get together. 

“The whole village and Christchurch has come together and did what they could, which is what it is all about and it been so enjoyable.” 

Two of the dresses belonged to brides who walked up the aisle 49 years ago and the most recent was just four years ago, but also on display was a family heirloom dating from the early 20th century. 

The renewal of vows service started with the organist Mr Ian Ormerod – who renewed his vows with wife Sheila – playing Here Comes the Bride and there was a welcome from Rev Tony Williams, the Vicar of Christchurch, although he did not take the service – as he was renewing vows with wife Julie. 

He said: “It’s been an amazing weekend. There is an wonderful variety (of dresses) going back many years.  

“It’s been a real pleasure and every face that has come has left smiling having discovered something about somebody they know.” 

The service included two hymns – Love Divine All Loves Excelling which Rev Williams said was the most popular wedding hymn and Come to a Wedding, which is sung to the tune of Morning Has Broken and is one of the most popular modern hymns. 

Rev Helen Rodwell, who conducted the service, said the couples were reconfirming their “commitment to working together to make your marriage grow and prosper in years to come.” 

She said: “These beautiful dresses really do speak of different periods of time and are all precious, each in their own unique way. 

“Many people believe entering into marriage is the final step in a romantic relationship, some people say it is the best day of my life. By inference it means it is downhill from there on.  

“Of course marriage is not meant to be the final step in a couple’s relationship, it is just the beginning of a grand adventure.  

“Some of you may be far into that adventure for others it is a new experience and we hope for each couple it will be long and fruitful. 

“May this ceremony to renew the vows you took to become husband and wife on your wedding day remind you that despite the stresses inevitable in every life, your love, respect, trust and understanding of each other will continue to increase your contentment and heighten your joy in living and loving.” 

Following the service there was a ‘wedding tea’ at English Bicknor Village Hall.