Tying the knot on Halloween may not be the obvious choice for couples - usually it is associated with death, ghosts and being scared.

But Halloween has special significance for Gemma and Marc Newberry - not only did they first get together on Halloween, they got engaged then too.

Although Gemma, 36, is originally from Brigham and Marc, 37, lived there for a while and worked in Cockermouth, the two now live in Toronto, Canada.

But instead of flying everyone across the Atlantic, the couple decided to get married in the UK so that all their friends and family could be there.

They decided to hold the wedding at The Caves in Edinburgh, a truly unique venue that makes up the sub-structure of the 18th century South Bridge.

The place is steeped in history and has many a story to tell - there are even vaults there that served as the stables to the French Cavalry who were at one time body guards to the Royal Family.

The couple decided to go all out with the theme: their cake was made of cheese and decorated with zombies and fake blood and their favours were skull shot glasses and bottles of green poison - more commonly known as apple Sourz.

Gemma’s headdress was also made of plastic bugs and sprayed gold.

Both Gemma and Marc are very creative and made a lot of the props and decorations themselves. They enjoyed the day with about 100 friends and family.

Preparing everything for a wedding across the Atlantic did get a bit stressful, especially as Gemma said in the months leading up to the wedding she got shingles and had major work deadlines.

It really was an international wedding as one of her bridesmaids was in the UK but the other lives in Paris.

Gemma said she would definitely recommend having a theme to other brides.

“More fun and less cookie cutter,” she said.

When asked if she had any other advice for brides she simply said: “Do whatever makes you happy and not necessarily what is expected of you.”

Even though the two got married nearly a year ago and are about to celebrate their paper anniversary, they are still unsure when they will go on their honeymoon to Japan.


This article is published in the Autumn/Winter edition of the free Cumbrian Weddings magazine, which is available from Tuesday, October 25.

The magazine can be picked up from our newspaper offices in Carlisle, Workington, Whitehaven and Barrow, selected newsagents as well as weddings fairs, bridal houses, venues, florists and other outlets across the county.