I swore I’d never remarry, but then I fell for Napoleon
Wedding of Robert James Smith and Linn Angela Watson
Napoleon and an Egyptian princess married in a wedding to remember at Crawley Register Office.
Robert James Smith, married Linn Angela Watson on October 5 and their special day required no stiff suits, big white dress or veil.
The Broadfield couple explained that their main aim was to ensure everyone felt comfortable during their big day and fancy dress seemed the way to achieve that.
Guests at the wacky wedding included a Star Trek Borg, an inflatable ballerina, a pirate and his wench, cat woman, a chicken rider, a drunk vicar and an alien.
Linn said the comical costumes made her feel at ease on her big day.
“Normally I cry at weddings, but when I was there I would look around and see an inflatable ballerina and it just made me beam.
“I really did feel like a Princess. Especially when I was walked down the isle by my son dressed as a knight.
“The registrar kept laughing and my partner was saying ‘don’t laugh it’s a serious situation’ and the whole ceremony was so happy.”
Robert added: “When the registrar asked me ‘who have you got as best man?’ and I said ‘an alien’ that set her off.
“She said it was one of the most interesting weddings she’d ever seen.”
After their ceremony in Southgate Avenue, the couple left the register office to face the public, many of whom wanted to take photos.
After, they enjoyed a simple reception in the garden of their new home.
Robert explained that after forking out for a house they wanted to make their day special without spending a fortune.
He said: “We’ve both been married twice before and so I never thought I‘d marry again.
“This time is just as important though and we just wanted everyone to have a good laugh.”
The husband and wife have known each other for nearly 25 years but it was not until Robert went to live and work in Spain that the distance between them caused a new-found closeness.
“I was actually living in Spain when Linn came to holiday there and we got on so well.
“I had been out there for four years and was planning to stay out there but I decided to come back to be with her.”
Lyn added: “We both swore we would never marry again so I was taken aback when he proposed. But we wanted to be together not because it’s expected, we just enjoy being with each other and we know how to have a laugh.”
The father-of-three admits he was nervous about telling his girls he was getting married for a third time and recalls the reaction of one of his daughters.
He said: “When I announced we were getting married she thought I was joking, but when she realised I was serious she was really happy for me.
“Then when I said we were doing fancy dress she was really excited, they all were, and they made a huge effort.”
The girls showed great support by becoming a fat ballerina, an Elizabethan lady and Cat Woman.
Another guest spent six weeks making his costume.
Robert said: “He’s a bit of an engineer, he made a cyborg costume with a mask over half his face and made it so that when he touched his fingers together, half his face lit up. It was really impressive.”.
Have you had a quirky wedding? Please send us your stories to crawleyobserver@sussexnewspapers.co.uk
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Weather for Crawley
Thursday 23 May 2013
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 11 C
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