WITH donkeys, Christmas carols and dozens of people watching, onlookers could have been forgiven for thinking that they had wandered onto the set of a nativity play.
Instead, it was the wedding of Mary and Joseph – also known as Lyndsey Holmes and Gareth Yardley – that was the reason for all the festive trimmings.
The couple, who got engaged while playing Mary and Joseph in a live nativity two years ago, tied the knot at Holy Trinity church yesterday.
Their service carried a special nativity twist, as the bride followed a pair of donkeys up the aisle.
"I wanted to do a full-on nativity as our wedding," said Mr Yardley, 33.
"We didn't because Lyndsey wanted something a bit more traditional, but I still managed to keep the donkeys in it.
"It was absolutely great.
"I was getting a bit stressed thinking that the donkeys were not going to turn up, but they did and it all went well."
Along with the donkeys, the congregation also sang Christmas carols instead of traditional hymns, and Mr Yardley said the couple wanted the ceremony to be around the festive period.
"It is just nice that all the family are together," he said.
"Having my wedding around Christmas is just a great feeling."
The couple have two sons, Finlay, four, and Sidney, who was just 11 weeks old when he played baby Jesus in the church's live nativity two years ago.
The Reverend Matt Woodcock said that he was delighted to be able to marry the couple at the scene where they were engaged.
"It was a wonderful wedding," he said.
"It was really fitting for them because they are Christmas mad.
"They were our first Mary and Joseph, and to walk the donkeys up the aisle was an experience not to be missed.
"None of the donkeys pooped, which was a relief."
Mr Woodcock said the festive spirit was in full force during the service.
"They are a great couple and have made it really special," he said.
"Everyone has got into the Christmas spirit for the wedding.
"It was a joyful occasion and it reminded people what the Christmas story was all about."
At the time of the proposal, Reverend Woodcock said he was of the only people to know about it.
"I had a ring in my pocket all the way through the nativity," he said.
"It was incredibly fitting that I was able to marry them back here.
"It was a really special occasion."
Joanne Holmes, the mother of the bride, said that the service had got everybody into the Christmas theme.
"It was beautiful – a really lovely wedding," she said.
"I did not know anything about the proposal.
"Gareth had done everything properly and asked Lyndsey's father, Brian, before.
"But nobody else knew anything, and everybody was so shocked by it.
"It has all been really lovely."
Liam Holmes, Mrs Yardley's brother, said that it was a great occasion.
"I have never seen her that happy before," Mr Holmes, 23, said.
"She looked really nice and really happy. It all went really well.
"I think she might have been hoping for snow but other than that it all went really well."
