Church organist plays bridal march - then marries bride

Groom Ian Payne pulled out all the stops for his wedding day. For, as the blushing bride walked down the aisle with her father, Ian played the organ in the church.

As the music died down, the organist stood up, put on his jacket and walked down to the front of the church and towards his wife-to-be. For Ian Payne and Andrea Don, there was never going to be much discussion about how their wedding ceremony would unfold.



Ian, a postman, has been the organist at St Michael's Church, Sittingbourne, for 16 years, and a member of the choir since he was a boy. The couple met when Andrea, owner of Nickel Books, Sittingbourne High Street, joined the choir eight years ago. Their wedding, held at the church and attended by about 200 guests, continued in unconventional style.

After exchanging their vows, Ian, 49, turned conductor for an anthem. Then it was Andrea's turn to get active - the 34-year-old joined a belly dancing performance with Aylesford-based Hasna Belly Dance.