THEIR budget might not be up to royal standards – their guests will be arriving by bus!
But the entire nation will be celebrating when this groom weds his very own ‘Miss Middleton’ on April 29.
Chris Wignall and Sandra Reed, nee Middleton, had a big surprise when Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their wedding date.
For Mr Wignall, 49, and Ms Reed, 52, had already booked their wedding at the Oxford Register Office in Park End Street on the same day.
Mr Wignall, a professional photographer said: “I thought: ‘That’s great. We’re sharing our wedding with the Royals, and hang on, I’m marrying a Miss Middleton too’.”
While the Windsors will be tying the knot in Westminster Abbey and have a guest list of more than 2,000, the Wignalls’ wedding will be more modest.
“We’re getting married in the Dexter Room at Oxford Register Office and having our reception at the James Figg Pub in Thame,” said Mr Wignall.
“We and our guests will be coming to Oxford on the 280 bus from Thame. “There’ll be quite a few of us, including quite a few older people, who will be able to use their bus passes.”
The couple were on the bus when they decided on their wedding date.
“We knew by having it on April 29 we could include the bank holiday into our honeymoon and we like the bus, so that seemed like a fun idea too,” said Mr Wignall.
“We’ve both been married before and we want our wedding to have lots of laughter.”
The couple met when Mr Wignall did gardening work for Ms Reed’s mum.
Ms Reed, an administrator, said: “We’re very excited about the idea of sharing the royal wedding day and although our wedding might not be quite so grand, it will be definitely be lots of fun and very romantic.
“The person organising our reception at the pub is thrilled. I think she’s really going to go for the royal theme, so there will be plenty of bunting and flags marking our special day too.
“I bought my dress in Wales and funnily enough my engagement ring is a sapphire like Princess Diana’s – only much smaller!”
Their honeymoon will be two weeks travelling around Britain, from south to north.
Mr Wignall’s children, Emily, 12, and James, 14, will be bridesmaid and best man.
Ms Reed added: “There are months of excitement ahead for us and the whole country. And on April 29, just like Kate Middleton, I will be marrying my Prince Charming.”
Alicja Gilroy, Superintendent Registrar for Oxfordshire Registration Service said: “We’ve six confirmed and two other possible weddings booked for April 29, but there may be other enquiries following the royal announcement. We’re thrilled to be part of Chris and Sandra’s wedding. It sounds like it will be fabulous fun.”
“We’ll have four teams conducting weddings that day. But we will record the Royal Wedding, so we can all watch it afterwards.”
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