The morning of a wedding, is for most brides spent with an army of hair and make up artists, being waited on hand and foot by a bevy of bridesmaids. Not so for one bride who got married yesterday.
For Lisa Russell, the wedding preparation could not have been more different. Popping on a pair of bib shorts and a cycling jersey, this bride was more concerned with tyre pressure and mid—ride snacks than champagne and flowers.
Cycle fanatics Gary Watson and Lisa Russell from Raynes Park in London opted to get married in the middle of the Prudential Ride London 100. Yes you heard us correctly – the middle of the 86 mile ride.
And while many a bride-to-be might freak out at the idea of turning up to her wedding with ‘helmet hair,’ Lisa insists she couldn’t think of a more suitable plan for their personalities.
“It’s all a bit silly really, we were joking with our friends that we would get married while riding around London if we got a place,” said Lisa.
“And when we eventually got a place we were like, ‘ok this is happening now, we can’t go back’.”
And so the pair were married in Pembroke Lodge in Richmond, soaking wet, thanks to the adverse weather conditions but looking delighted. Lisa and Gary celebrated their union with a quick glass of champagne before hopping back on their bikes, cycling towards the Mall where they crossed the line of the Prudential Ride London 100 together.
The couple were riding in order to raise money for the Isla Cecil Brighter Future Fund which was set up in memory of their friend’s child Isla Cecil who passed away when she was just 15 months old having suffered a rare brain tumour.
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