By ROBERT GIBSON

Published at 09:40, Friday, 13 August 2010

LONDON couple Alex Pearmain and Sally March left the big city in favour of the tranquil setting of Hexham Abbey for their wedding.

The couple then enjoyed a reception at Langley Castle before spending their honeymoon on America’s West Coast, taking in the sights of LA, San Francisco and Seattle.

The bridegroom is the son of David and Diane Pearmain, of Beech Close, Beech Hill, Hexham.

He attended Queen Elizabeth High School, Hexham, before studying history at Oxford and now works for Fishburn Hedges, a London PR agency.

The bride is the daughter of Stefan and Elizabeth March, of Solihull, in the West Midlands.

She went to King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls’ School in Birmingham before also studying history at Oxford University.

After working for five years in recruitment, she is now training to be a history teacher.

Given away by her father, the bride wore an ivory dress with a strapless fitted taffeta bodice and pleated organza skirt. This was complemented by a waist-length veil with ivory trim and Swarovski jewellery. She also carried a bouquet of white roses with accents of blue and yellow.

The bride’s sister Jordana March, her cousin and goddaughter Isobel Bannister, and her school friends Becky Johnson and Penny Lloyd were bridesmaids.

They wore royal blue cocktail-length dresses made by family friend Hazel Janes, and carried bouquets of bright yellow roses with accents of white.

Best man was the bridegroom’s school friend Jamie Slater, and ushers were the bridegroom’s brother Laurence Pearmain, the bride’s brothers Gregory and Harry March, and the couple’s university friend Rich Stock.

The Abbey pews were decorated with flowers and ribbons by family friend Val Wigham, and music was performed by the Hexham Abbey Choir and organist Shaun Turnbull, with hymns including Amazing Grace and Shine Jesus Shine.

The bride entered to Handel’s Zadok the Priest, John Rutter’s For the Beauty was performed as the register was signed and the couple exited to Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.

Throughout the ceremony, the bride carried a locket in her bouquet, containing photographs of her grandmother, who was unable to attend the service, and of her late grandfather.

Photograph by Katie Lee

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk