Groom rows 2,300km to get to wedding ceremony

TRADITIONALLY, it is the bride who arrives late for her wedding – but one British groom was forgiven for his tardiness after rowing across the Atlantic to tie the knot.

Adventurous Neil Ward arrived in the Caribbean on the Britannia III as part of a crew of 12 taking part in the Atlantic Rowing Race. Welshman Ward, 38, set off on the journey of more than 2,300 kilometres from the Canary Islands on January 4. He arrived in Barbados, where fiancee Louise Robertson was waiting, on Thursday, a few days later than scheduled.

The couple, who live in the French Alps, celebrated their wedding in the sunshine of Almond Beach Village on Saturday – a day later than originally planned. The new Mrs Ward, who is from Hampshire but now lives in the resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie, said: “We had no idea where or how we wanted to get married.

“When Neil joked he’d row the Atlantic just to marry me, that was the idea that stuck.”

Offshore oil worker and expedition organiser Ward sailed to Ireland on his own at the age of 16 and went on to take many extreme challenges. Ward met his wife in the Alps and they got together through a shared love of the outdoors. He moved to Les Contamines, the closest village to Mont Blanc, 12 years ago.

Meanwhile, for most couples, the “big day” ensures the beginning of matrimonial life starts on a high. However, a ceremony in Thailand has taken things to a new level. Suspended from a cliff by sling wires, brides and grooms said “I do” in a “flying wedding” ceremony to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

Nitiphong Jittahong and Rattanaporn Supha were one of four Thai couples to take part in the annual event in Prachinburi province in east Thailand.

The brides dress in traditional white, with harnesses, and the couples grasp bouquets of flowers as they manage to smile for their wedding day. photos.