Couple have superhero wedding

AFTER three years of preparations for the marriage of a couple from Chedgrave, the families of the bride and groom had perfected every last detail for a fairytale wedding.

So when groom Phil Rix, 38, took up his position in time for the ceremony wearing a Batman costume, complete with tights and a cape, the couple's family and friends looked on aghast as they awaited the bride's grand arrival.

But the joke was on them as Helen Cant emerged wearing an eye-catching red and blue Wonder Woman outfit, and the superheroes were declared man and wife in front of 40 stunned guests.

Afterwards the new Mrs Rix, 35, confessed the prank had been her idea.

“Phil was always a bit hesitant to marry me because he was a bit nervous about getting up in front of lots of people, so I suggested we get dressed up,” she said. “He is known for winding people up so I think our guests were probably expecting some kind of twist.”

Although not particular fans of the superhero characters, the couple were keen not to replicate other themed weddings and searched the internet for ideas before finding the costumes in a fancy dress shop.

With only her mother in the know, guests feared for the bride's reaction when Mr Rix appeared at the ceremony at Hales Hall in his comical costume.

“They were so upset, they thought I was going to be really angry with him,” said Mrs Rix. “Then I came to meet Dad at the door and I don't think he could believe his eyes.”

She said the hilarity served its purpose in calming nerves, adding: “It was quite funny, everyone was really shocked.”

Joke over, the couple, cast off their alter egos after the ceremony in favour of traditional wedding attire, which saw the bride's look transformed, thanks to a classical ivory satin dress.

Mr Rix, who works in the building trade, and his new wife, who is a retail manager, enjoyed the rest of the day's celebrations as planned in conventional style along with 150 guests, including their eight-month-old son Billy.