High-flying Lancashire couple marry on wings of plane

5:26pm Tuesday 5th August 2008

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NEWLY-WEDS Katie and Darren McWalters were literally walking on air when they tied the knot – 1,000ft high in the sky.

The thrill-seeking couple said “I do” today strapped to the wings of 1940s biplanes, with a fearless vicar strapped to a third – and facing backwards – to bless their vows.

Postwoman Katie, nee Hodgson, and Darren, a fitness instructor, were selected from hundreds of couples by Aerobatics, a Gloucestershire-based airshow display firm with the world’s only formation wingwalking team, Team Guinot.

The firm put an advert in local papers at the start of the year looking for “daredevil lovebirds”, and Katie, 23, and Darren, 24, fitted the bill.

The self-confessed adrenaline-junkies got engaged last June during a trip to South America, and at the weekend will go on a safari honeymoon in Tanzania.

The couple, who live in Leyland, had a series of trial runs at the Cotswolds airfield after their first on Valentine’s Day, so they knew exactly what to expect today.

Katie, who grew up in Blackburn, said: “We can’t believe the day has arrived.

"It seems like yesterday we had our first practise wingwalk. We’ve been so excited.”

After a legal ceremony at a register office witnessed by best man, Darren’s brother Stephen, and Katie’s bridesmaid and younger sister Lucy, the couple travelled separately to the airfield where around 50 family and friends were waiting, plus the Reverend George Brigham from Shipley, Yorkshire.

Rev Brigham volunteered to officiate the unorthodox ceremony after the couple put out an appeal to find a daredevil vicar.

He did the honours at the last Team Guinot wedding in 2001.

Katie, a former pupil at St Wilfrid’s CE High School Technology College, Blackburn, said: “He’s lovely and so enthusiastic about it all.”

Still on the ground, Rev Brigham conducted the service until the “I do” part, at which the vicar, Darren and Katie, in their wedding finery, were each strapped to a plane and flown up 1,000 feet.

The congregation below heard them confirm their vows thanks to an airborne communications system which played them loud speakers.

The trio then landed and Darren and Katie exchanged rings and had their first kiss as man and wife.

A champagne reception and wedding breakfast was held at the airfield hangar, before the party continued at a hotel in Cirencester.

“We’re so pleased and chuffed we decided to do it.

"It’s been the perfect way for us to get married,” said Katie.