Taking the plunge: Couple gets married on a rock half a mile out to sea... and even the bride's 80-year-old grandpa swims over to watch them tie the knot
By Lauren Paxman
Last updated at 7:59 PM on 23rd September 2011
Everyone wants their wedding day to be original. But trained lifeguards Becky Watkinson and Samson Hutson put more effort than most into coming up with a unique wedding venue.
Perhaps even more admirably, though, their 50 guests didn't baulk at having to swim out to a little rock off the North Devon Coast to watch Becky, 24, and Samson, 26 tie the knot.
Even Becky's 80-year-old grandpa, Brian Machin took the plunge. And the groom's father - who cannot swim - donned a lifejacket and floated to the rock on his back.
After exchanging vows in wet suits and a white tutu for the bride the couple jumped 20-ft off the rock into the sea at Hele Bay, near Ilfracombe, Devon.
The pair are both outdoors instructors and wanted a special service for their big day having already had a proper wedding at a registry office.
Although the rock wedding wasn’t legal because it wasn’t on a licensed venue it meant a lot to the couple.
For part of the journey guests scrambled over the rocks getting their feet wet. But the final 66ft had to be swum.
Speaking before the ceremony Becky said: 'We’re not really conventional people - I wouldn’t want to wear a dress and Samson wouldn’t want to wear a suit.
'When we got married in the register office nobody was there - it was boring.
'This is our true wedding day - this is where we really want to get married.
'The rock is about half a mile out - you have to half scramble over rocks and half swim to get there.
'My granddad will be there - in a wetsuit - he’s loving it.
'Grandad’s really excited about the wedding and thankfully is very fit - he goes swimming about once a week and still rides his bike,' said Becky.
She admits her grandmother Muriel Machin, on the other hand, is 'not quite so excited' and will travel to and from the rock by boat.
'Nana made me laugh so much - she said ‘at 75-years-old I consider myself ancient and I certainly won’t be squeezing myself into a wet suit’,' Becky said.
'So many people said "no way" when they saw the invitation and that they’d watch it from the beach.
'But everyone slowly came round.
'The vicar is doing it too - that’s how we met him - during a coasteering session.
'He’s the only vicar in the UK to do this sort of thing I think.
'Samson’s dad can’t swim at all - so that’s going to be a bit of a challenge,' Becky said.
He ended up wearing a life jacket and floating out on his back.
Becky admits the biggest challenge for some of the guests - including her mother Sue Ward - would be jumping into the sea with them after the marriage ceremony.
'Some of the family might have a bit of a wobble because we took mum for a practice jump and she took ages to jump,' she said.
'But the bay is very sheltered and we’ll have really experienced lifeguards in the water and safety lines... everything will be absolutely fine.'
Becky and Samson, who are both originally from the Nottingham area, met in Greece and have spent time travelling around Europe, Australia, the Middle East and South America.
For the past two years, the couple, who are experienced coasteering instructors, have taught surfing, kayaking and climbing in and around Ilfracombe. They are both also trained beach lifeguards.
'We really love living in Devon and can’t think of anywhere better for the wedding,' Becky said.
The couple insist no-one will be in any danger on the day of the wedding, and the jump will have been well practiced and researched.
'You can jump off the rock with complete safety two hours either side of high water, so that’s at two-thirty and we’re getting married about one-thirty.
The couple’s main witnesses will be men, but with a slight nod to tradition, the two 'bridesmaids' will be attired in wetsuits with pink tutus.
One of the 'bridesmaids' is Australian Andrew 'Bruce' Biggs, who has known Becky since she was a teenager.
'When I phoned to tell him about the wedding I said I was gutted he wouldn’t be able to make it, but he just laughed and said "of course I will" and he booked his flight the very next day,' Becky said.
Bruce, however, suffers from acrophobia (fear of heights) and is 'absolutely terrified' at the thought of jumping from the top of the rock.
'Given that he’s Australian, I also don’t think he’ll do very well with the cold water in Devon,' Becky said.
Hot pasties and tea were waiting in a marquee for the newly-weds and their guests when they arrived back at the beach.
Later in the day the wedding was celebrated with a reception 'more suited to our lifestyle' - a pirate-themed reception at the local yacht club.
Becky and Samson both wore eye patches.
Before swimming across to the rock Vicar Paul Hanley said: 'This is the oddest ceremony I’ve ever done - but it’s a lot of fun.
'I’ll be wearing a wetsuit and will have a dry bag so I hope the order of service doesn’t get damp.
'I’ll jump off the rock with the couple afterwards - I’m going to enjoy the whole thing.
'It’s wonderful - it’s meaningful to them and to all who see it as well.'
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