Over the years I have learnt to ask specific questions during the pre-wedding meeting, one of which is directed at the bride: “Who is going to walk you down the aisle?”

You can and should never take the answer to this question for granted as there are various family circumstances that might change the answer to the question. Most brides answer with ‘Dad’, but some brides might not have a good contact with Dad so chose mum or Dad might no longer be around to walk his daughter down the aisle.

This was the case at Ed & Colette’s wedding at Aldwick Court Farm last year. Sadly Dad had passed away after short illness when Colette was a teenager and her brother stepped up to walk her down the aisle. During the ceremony and shortly before Ed and COlette exchange vows and rings both mothers stepped forward to be with their children. Colette’s mum grabbed her hand and I saw the ‘Dad’ tattoo which made him very much part of the moment, the day and their wedding.