Published on: Sunday, 12 August 2012
Last updated: Wednesday, 5 October 2016
Aisha Allarakhia and Ben Howells of Ipswich took the unusual step of travelling from their wedding to their reception by train.
On Sunday 12 August, Aisha and Ben’s wedding guests travelled on the 1200 Greater Anglia train service from Manningtree to Harwich, for the wedding service at the Electric Palace, Harwich. The wedding had a vintage theme, with the bride in a stylish 1950’s gown.
The bride and groom joined their guests for the return journey on the 1428 Greater Anglia service from Harwich Town to Manningtree, on which cake and sparkling wine were served by way of a celebration, on route to the wedding reception, a garden party in Manningtree.
The Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership was on hand to decorate a carriage especially for the wedding party, continuing the vintage theme with decorations inspired by second-hand books and vintage cards.
Ben, who is a regular commuter on Greater Anglia services, had been inspired to enquire about the possibility of a wedding train, after he has seen reports of the event trains organised by the Community Rail Partnership.
Lucy Ainger of the Essex and South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership: “We were delighted when Aisha and Ben decided to travel on the Mayflower line from their wedding to their reception. We decorated a carriage especially for them and did everything we could to make their day as special as possible. We wish them every happiness in their life together.”
Aisha Allarakhia said: “Aside from actually getting married, it’s one of the parts of the day that I am most looking forward to, it is unique to us.”
Though wedding trains happen from time to time on heritage railways, it is unusual to find them on a commuter rail line, but on the day the Community Rail Partnership and Greater Anglia worked together to make the day as special as possible for Aisha and Ben.
James Steward Greater Anglia Area Customer Service Manager said “We were very pleased that Aisha and Ben chose to travel with us today and we wish them many happy years together.”