Bride makes history at Bavarian wedding

Emma Parker tied the knot with her childhood sweetheart Simon Ziegloser in St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Mittenwald, and earned her place in the record books as the first British girl to be married there since the church, which is painted pink and is the most significant landmark in the village, was built in 1746.

The couple chose Mittenwald because, although Simon grew up in Burnley, Bavaria was his birthplace and he was christened in the church.

The event caused such a stir in the village that locals had been talking about it for weeks, and hundreds of people turned out onto the streets on the day to wish the couple well.

Emma’s father, Douglas Parker of Meadow Close, Reedley, said: “The wedding was three years in the planning but well worth all the time and effort, as it was such a special and magical event. Emma and Simon wanted to do something a bit different that had special meaning to it.

“They had to get special permission to be married there.

“When we arrived in the village people were asking us if we were the English wedding party, it was such a big occasion, we felt like celebrities. The welcome we received from the villagers was fantastic, many of them joined the celebrations with us.”

The spectacle of seeing a British girl marrying in a traditional white wedding dress was a one-off in Mittenwald, as brides usually wear traditional costumes.

The wedding has even received coverage in a German magazine.

An administration assistant for the NHS community nurses in Blackburn, Emma (27) is a former pupil of Walshaw High School.

Simon attended St Theodore’s RC High School, and now works as a designer and estimater for Lancashire Board and Paper.

The couple took 34 family and friends with them to the wedding, including Emma’s mum, Gloria, her sister Samantha, who was bridesmaid, Simon’s mum, Marie, who lives in Allerton Drive, Burnley, and his brother, Florian, who was best man.

Guest of honour was Emma’s grandad, Mr Daniel Parker (78), who has been battling illness for several months but was well enough to make the journey to see Emma tie the knot.

The couple, who have set up home in Raleigh Street, Padiham, honeymooned in Thailand and plan to throw a party at Burnley nightspot KoKos, for all the people who could not attend the wedding.