Rebecca and Tony tie the knot – and jump over a broomstick
Rebecca Phillips and Tony Wilkinson jump over the broomstick during their pagan wedding ceremony at Avebury as best man Pete Martin (right) and druid keeper of the stones Terry Dobney (left) look on Ref: 201619-44
SIGHTSEERS visiting Avebury's famous stones were given an added visual treat as the popular tourist attraction played host to a pagan wedding ceremony.
Rebecca Phillips and Tony Wilkinson tied the knot on Saturday next to one of the site's smaller stones amid dozens of wellwishers in traditional pagan regalia.
And, after having their hands fastened together prior to jumping over a broomstick to close the unusual ceremony, the newly-married couple revealed the day couldn't have gone any better.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," said 28-year-old Rebecca. "It went better than I ever thought it could it was perfect.
"I hardly slept last night and I was pacing up and down the garden because I was so nervous, but I was excited at the same time."
Rebecca wore a couture dress, which her mum helped to customise together with homemade "Weddington Boots" made from white wellies adorned with Swarovski crystals and lines of pearls.
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Tony wore a pirate suit, as did Rebecca's five-year-old son Bracken.
The ceremony began with Rebecca and Tony in sun' and moon' circles to rid themselves of their past loves.
"I think it was the quietest I have been for a while when I was stood in my circle," said Tony, 27, formerly of Penhill.
"But it was a wonderful ceremony from start to finish."
The actual wedding ceremony began with the marking out of a sacred circle, honouring the four elements earth, wind, water and fire. The happy couple, who recently left Swindon to start their new life together in London, then exchanged jewellery before reading out their vows to each other.
But they will have to go through the same process in a year's time.
"We will be meeting up here one year and one day from now as it is pagan tradition," said Rebecca. "Our plan is to renew our vows in the middle of the stone circle and have a glorified picnic."
Terry Dobney, druid keeper of the stones, conducted the ceremony. He said: "I do anything from 15 to 40 weddings a year. I've even done three in one day."
"It is always nice to see two people making a lifetime commitment to each other."
Rebecca and Tony enjoyed a reception at the Red Lion pub in Avebury before setting off on their honeymoon in Suffolk.
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