Here comes the bride
Reporter: KAREN DOHERTY
Date published: 25 January 2011
Photo: Picture by DARREN ROBINSON
APPLAUSE for the happy couple.
Couple renew their vows in ceremony planned by pupils
IT was second time around for bride and groom Joe and Janette Hall when they tied the knot.
The happy couple not only renewed their vows to mark their silver wedding anniversary, the special occasion was also used to show pupils at St Hugh’s Primary School what happens at a church wedding.
They were “married” by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies, in a ceremony at St Hugh’s Church, Holts, which is also the school hall.
Joe, the school’s site manager, had already got down on one knee during an assembly to pop the question to Janette, who teaches at the school.
The pupils were then involved in all the preparations for the big day — from making the invitations, flowers, wedding cake, decorations and confetti, to compiling a CD of music.
The blushing bride wore a 1970s wedding dress —belonging to a friend — for the ceremony.
Her veil was held in place by a sparkling tiara as she was given away by Neil Crook, churchwarden for the parish of Leesfield. Assistant head teacher Denise Walsh was her best maid.
The groom and best man, teacher Scott Jepson, wore top hats while pupils Connor Wilcock, Alisha Derbyshire and Chardonnay Dervan were the pageboy and bridesmaids respectively.
Celebrations continued at the reception where the couple took to the floor for their first dance.
Head teacher Lynn Burnley said: “It was incredible.
“The whole school made a tremendous effort to create a real wedding.
“It was certainly a memorable day for the children, many of whom had not been to a wedding in a church.”
The bishop agreed to officiate during a deanery pastoral visit, while the Rev Alan Butler, area dean for Oldham West, also attended.
Mr Butler said: “It just felt so real, and in a way it was as the special couple renewed their vows after 25 years.
“It gave the bishop an opportunity to share with the children what Christian marriage was all about. For me it was a memorable occasion.”
