in fancy dress and a themed menu was served up


A groom ditched his shoes and tie as he transformed into the hobbit, Frodo Baggins, for his Lord of the Rings wedding day.

Will Grant, 28, who's a big fan of the J.R.R. Tolkien fantasy novel, convinced his wife-to-be, Amy Gander, 33, to turn their garden in Woolacombe, North Devon into Middle Earth for their big day.

They rowed to a pond where a man dressed as Gandalf took their vows and a well-trained eagle delivered the wedding rings.

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Movie moment: Amy Gander, 33, and Will Grant, 28, took six months to recreate J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth at their home in Woolacombe, North Devon, where the couple were married July 4

I do: They rowed to a pond where a man dressed as Gandalf took their vows and a well-trained eagle delivered the wedding rings

Hard work paid off: It took Will and Amy six months to plan their magical nuptials

It took Will and Amy six months to plan their magical nuptials, which took place on July 4.

They even created a website to give guests some costume inspiration. It advised attendees to bring weapons but to 'keep safety in mind'.

'If you have a bow and arrow, please leave the arrows at home to avoid the temptation of ﬁring them,' the description read.

While Will, a plumber, went as Frodo Baggins, Amy dressed as the ethereal blonde character, Galadriel.

Their fantastical setting was decked with hobbit holes, an enchanted forest and a wooden entrance with the carved inscription 'speak friend and enter' based on the Gates of Moria.

Family fun: The couple's five-month-old twins, Ferne and Xavier, and their 21-month-old girl, Gwen, came as baby hobbits while other guests kept their fancy dress as a surprise until the day

Smiles all around: Amy, who works as a teacher, said: 'Our garden looks a lot like the Shire anyway so we just added a few features to make it more of a middle earth experience for the guests.'

Arriving in style: Adorned with the flags of Rohan, the marquee resembled the Golden Hall of Meduseld

Day of adventure: The fantastical setting was decked with hobbit holes, an enchanted forest and a wooden entrance with the carved inscription 'speak friend and enter' based on the Gates of Moria

Adorned with the flags of Rohan, the marquee resembled the Golden Hall of Meduseld.

The food menu also drew on the theme, with canapés including 'lembas bread' - a snack made by the elves in the Lord of the Rings series - and 'Bag End babaganoush' in honour of Bilbo Baggin's home.

There was also an Elf bar serving homebrewed elderflower champagne and an Orc bar serving rum-based drinks.

For the wedding cake the couple had the Lord of The Rings trilogy designed, with three book-shaped sponges stacked into a tower.

Amy, who works as a teacher, said: 'Our garden looks a lot like the Shire anyway so we just added a few features to make it more of a middle earth experience for the guests.

Sealing the deal: On July 10 the couple had their legal wedding which channelled the Emily Brontë novel, Wuthering Heights

Happy couple: When Amy and Will, a plumber, got engaged in 2013, the bride-to-be had not seen the blockbusters

Team effort: The idea of a Lord of the Rings wedding was suggested as a joke by one of Will's friends but it soon became a reality

Archery session: Guests were warned to keep safety in mind when it came to weapons

'We were so lucky with the weather and the elderflower cider was flowing so that helped the party atmosphere.

'I was completely overwhelmed by the effort people had put into their costumes, my favourite part of the whole day was walking down the aisle.

'I saw my next-door neighbour dressed as Gandalf sat on a white horse then beyond him 170 people in the most amazing fancy dress.

'It made me feel so special that people had gone to the trouble of making such elaborate costumes for our wedding.'

The couple's five-month-old twins, Ferne and Xavier, and their 21-month-old girl, Gwen, came as baby hobbits while other guests kept their fancy dress as a surprise until the day.

Roll up, roll up! There was also an Elf bar serving homebrewed elderflower champagne and an Orc bar serving rum-based drinks

In disguise: A wedding guest is caught off-guard as he poses with a cane and cold beverage

Convincing act: 'Gimli the Dwarf warrior' won the prize for 'best dressed' (above) Amy said that her friend spent the whole day up walking on his knees and ended up with blisters

'Gimli the Dwarf warrior' won the prize for 'best dressed'. Amy said that her friend spent the whole day up walking on his knees and ended up with blisters.

Second and third prize went to the only Ork at the wedding and a female Rider of Rohan.

When Amy and Will got engaged in 2013, the bride-to-be had not seen the blockbusters.

She said: 'I was at university when the films came out and my bridesmaid reminded me that I'd said I'd never watch them as they looked too long and boring.

'Will on the other hand is a huge fan, he's read all the books and when The Hobbit came out we travelled to Oxford to watch it and we stayed in Oxford University Halls to get a real Tolkien experience.

Taking a break: A guest - who appears to be dressed as a tree - has a quick drink in the sun

New horizons: For their honeymoon the newlyweds are planning a trip to South Wales

Book worms: For the wedding cake the couple had the Lord of The Rings trilogy designed, with three book-shaped sponges stacked into a tower

'The idea of a Lord of the Rings wedding was suggested as a joke by one of Will's friends, we just laughed along with it not seriously considering it, but then thought actually it would be quite good fun and something a bit different.

'I've watched the films now but haven't got very far with the books.'

On July 10 the couple had their legal wedding which channelled the Emily Brontë novel, Wuthering Heights.

Amy added: 'I'm not originally a Lord of the Rings fan that was Will's day.

'I love reading Thomas Hardy, Daphne Du Maurier and authors like that so Friday was more the day for me.

'But both weddings followed a literary theme.'