Blushing bride Hayley Lawson has always dreamed of having a big white wedding in a church.
But the newlywed never expected her special day to go down in the history books by becoming the first bride to walk down the aisle at Leeds Minster.
The 25-year-old and her new husband Oliver Dean, 23, decided they wanted to tie the knot at the stunning Leeds Parish Church.
But just weeks before their big day the delighted couple were told that the church of their dreams was set to be renamed as a Minster to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The loved up pair have now cemented their mark in the historic church’s record books by becoming the first couple to be married at the Minster yesterday afternoon.
Sales consultant Hayley, who lives in Morley with her new husband, said: “I’ve always wanted a white wedding as long as it was a church.
“This is just beyond our expectations.
“It’s kind of an honour really going down in their historical books.
“It just makes your special day a little bit more special.”
The couple, who have been together for two years, met when they both worked at the same sales company.
They didn’t know that the historic building had been earmarked for Minster status until after they booked their wedding.
They read online that it was set to be given the historic title and were surprised to then find out that they would be the first couple to get married there.
Oliver, who proposed to Hayley last September, added: “We were a bit surprised really.
“My best man thought I was joking about it until we had our rehearsal.
“It will be a privilege to get a line on Wikipedia and it will also be nice for family history.
“I’m a lucky man.”
The newlyweds and the wedding party enjoyed their reception at Healds Hall Hotel in Liversedge.
They are now looking forward to booking their honeymoon at DisneyWorld in America.
During a special ceremony last weekend the Rector of Leeds, the Reverend Canon Tony Bundock, said the service was “only something that happens once every 1,000 years” and “a chance to affirm the church’s Saxon heritage”.
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