East Lancashire couple's tractor-themed wedding (From Lancashire Telegraph)

East Lancashire couple's tractor-themed wedding

10:50am Tuesday 17th April 2012 in Ribble Valley news

FORGET horse-drawn carriages, an East Lancashire couple decided to sow the seeds of love at a tractor-themed wedding.

Zara Kelly, 27, and Oliver Skoczen, 25, tied the knot at St Mary’s RC Church, Osbaldeston.

Shocked family and friends were taken aback when they arrived to see three John Deere tractors, which the couple used to take the wedding party to their reception 18 miles away at The Stirk House Hotel, in Gisburn.

The bride and groom, who met on a night out in Preston in 2005, also had tractor-shaped chocolate favours, and a three-tiered farm-themed cake.

Veterinary nurse bride Zara, originally from Burnley, said her tractor-mad husband, an agricultural contractor, was insistent on their mode of transport.

She said: “Oliver said I could have anything I wanted for the wedding as long as he had a tractor to take us to the reception, rather than a car.

“I wasn’t that bothered because I had looked into hiring a Rolls Royce, but that was more expensive than hiring the three tractors.”

Salesbury man Oliver proposed to Zara in September last year on a beach while on a family holiday in Wales.

As wedding preparations fell into place, the couple decided to keep their unique idea a surprise.

Mrs Skoczen, who works at Daisy Street Vets, in Blackburn, said: “We only told our parents, and the bridesmaids and ushers, and the best man.

“The guests were all stunned to see three John Deere tractors lined up outside the church.

“Oliver drove our tractor, while the best man and an usher drove the other two, with the bridesmaids as passengers.

“The guests all loved the idea, but I think some were worried how long it would take us to get to the reception."

One of the tractors was also used to give guests trips around the grounds of The Stirk House Hotel.

She added: “Travelling along the A59 in convoy created a tailback as the tractors could only reach a maximum speed of 35mph.

“We were met by a lot of initially angry drivers, but as they overtook us and could see our wedding clothes, with the ribbon on the tractors, they started cheering and waving at us.

“Even though it was Friday the 13th, the day couldn’t have gone better for us. It was perfect.”

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