A bride topped off her big day and was married in a 200-year-old veil worn by at least SIX generations of her family.
Emma Marsh followed in a long tradition by wearing the item while making her vows to new husband Donald.
She didn’t even know it existed until her mum Gillian fished it out of the attic after she announced her engagement.
But Emma, of Falmouth, Cornwall, has since been fascinated to learn of her family’s long association with the embroidered veil.
They can trace it back as far as Emma’s great, great, great grandmother Hannah Mawson’s wedding in 1849 to Joseph Calvert.
That took place in the Parish church, Bolton.
It was worn again at their son John Calvert’s wedding to Rebecca Pearson in 1887 in Farsley Yorkshire.
In 1913 their future daughter in law Annie Coates wore it to marry their son Joseph Calvert in Calverley Yorkshire.
Their daughter Joan Calvert wore it at her wedding in Bolton to Lawrence Foley.
It was last used in 1972 when their daughter, and Emma’s mother, Gillian married John Townend at St Giles Parish Church.
Emma said: “I am the eldest of three sisters and was unaware of the veil until my mum brought it down from the attic after our engagement.
“It had beautiful embroidery on it. Out of coincidence the pattern went perfectly with the lace of my dress.
“As something old I wore it, which is over 200 years old.
“I felt very honoured to be able to follow in the family tradition of being able to wear the veil, it also made me reflect on how the celebration of a marriage is probably very different to 200 years ago.”
The couple, of Falmouth, Cornwall, married at Mawnan Parish Church with a reception at Restronguet Barton.
In the marquee on the day were photos of both her mum and grandmother on their wedding days.
