SKULL and crossbone hats and cutlasses mixed with veils and buttonholes when a couple decided to have a wedding with a difference.
Claire Kelly and Scott Richardson, of St James's Estate, Alnwick, had a pirate theme at their wedding reception in memory of the bride's sister Amy.
The 26-year-old died on March 21 after developing a blood clot from deep vein thrombosis (DVT), wh
ich she developed after fracturing her ankle.
The day before Amy died Claire, 28, and Scott, 32, decided to get married and Amy had all sorts of plans for the wedding.
Claire, 28, said: "The night before she died she was texting me saying 'I think we should have a theme for the wedding, let's all be pirates'. After she died we just said we would do a pirate theme in her memory."
The couple held a raffle at the wedding to raise funds for thrombosis charity Lifeblood, to raise awareness of DVT as a killer.
Prizes were donated from businesses in Alnwick and a treasure hunt was held.
The couple tied the knot at Alnwick Register Office and held their reception at Alnwick Rugby Club.
After the speeches they brought out pirate gear – to the surprise of their guests.
Everyone donned pirate paraphernalia and Lifeblood T-shirts.
Claire said: "It was amazing, brilliant, it's just a shame that is all over."
She paid tribute to her sister, who she said would have really enjoyed the day. She said: "She would just light up the room when she walked in, she was amazing."
Claire and Scott raised more than £550 for the charity at their wedding and they are planning to hold more fund-raising events.
The full article contains 288 words and appears in Northumberland Gazette newspaper.
