Santa baby, hurry down the aisle with me

IT may have been his busiest day of the year, but Santa still found time to tie the knot with Mrs Claus on Christmas Eve.

Or at least Caister couple Philip and Suzanne Cross did, walking down the aisle in suitably festive dress.

When Philip and Suzanne pencilled in December 24 as their wedding day they decided swap the normal wedding attire for something more seasonal.

So they exchanged vows and exchanged a kiss under the mistletoe at Gorleston Register Office last Friday dressed as in Santa costumes hired specially for the occasion.

After the wedding ceremony it was off to Caister Castle for the reception where Philip spread some good cheer handing out chocolates.

Farm worker Philip said: “My wife suggested dressing up as Santa Claus as we were getting married at Christmas. It is something out of the ordinary and will be fun looking back on in years to come.

“The staff at the register office told us that they hadn't had anyone getting married in fancy dress before so it's nice to know that we are something of a first.

“Our friends had a laugh about it when we told them what we were thinking of doing - they didn't believe we were serious.”

Philip, 47, and Suzanne, 57, who works as newspaper distributor for Mercury publisher Archant Norfolk, met in a Great Yarmouth nightclub seven years ago.

The couple, who got engaged in 2006, enjoyed a traditional Christmas tucking into dinner of turkey with all the trimmings.

“I suppose we should have gone to Lapland for our honeymoon, but decided to have a relaxing time at home instead.

“We got on well from the start, I asked Suzanne if she wanted a drink and we took it from there,” added Philip.

“I start work about 4.30am and often don't get back till late at night, we hardly see each other much of the time so maybe that helps our relationship.”