Clitheroe 2232b (Editorial), 22323 (Advertising). Burnley b‘ 2331 (Classified) 2‘


Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, September 22nd, 199b 13


Bram Duckworth & Tracey Van Der Zwaan


"IT was the best day of our lives!”


That was the verdict of


happy couple Bram Duckworth and Tracey Van Der Zwann after they tied the knot on a Drilliant day in August. They had an additional


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reason to celebrate as Tracey and Bram were'the winners of the East Lancashire Newspapers “Wedding of the Year” competition. The lucky pair were


among seven finalists selected out of a laden entry bag to find “ the most romantic couple” in the Burnley, Padiham, Pendle and Clitheroe areas. It was Bram’s mother,


Kathleen, who persuaded them to enter the competition with an account of the proposal on board a ship cruising down the sun-kissed River Nile


in Egypt. After several drafts by


Tracey, with final approval by Bram, their story was featured back in May, along with six others, and readers were invited to cast their vote for the winners. The couple had saved


very hard to go to their dream destination of


Egypt. And, as Tracey


explained: “We were on a cruiser on the River Nile, sitting out on the deck. The sun was setting along


the Nile, in bright oranges and reds and there was a gentle breeze blowing on our faces. It was very quiet and we were the only ones outside watching the Nile going genuy by. “ Bram turned around to


me and suddenly got down on one knee, took hold of my hand and asked me to marry him, producing a beautiful diamond ring. "It was so romantic and


I eventually said yes, when it sank in what he had asked me." On their return to


Burnley, their families threw a surprise party and so began the preparations for the big day. They were delighted to


learn that they were the winners, especially as the first prize was a trip provided by Altham’s Travel and a bed from Top Beds of Burnley. The trip was of particular delight as, due to the expense of buying and furnishing their new home, they had feared that they would be unable to go on honeymoon.


But, thanks to their


reward for being “ the most romantic couple,” they were able to get off to the Algarve the day after their wedding at a Barnoldswick Church and reception at the Oaks Hotel. As Tracey said: “The


day was like a dream and everything went perfectly."


A romantic proposal on the River Nile was followed by a blissful wedding surrounded by family and friends for Tracey and Bram.


Dazzling bride


Tracey had her heart set on a traditional wedding in her family church in Barnoldswick surrounded


by lots of attendants. And everything went


according to plan on the big day which the couple said they "would love to do all over again."


Relatives from as far


afield as Japan and Holland travelled to wish the happy couple well on their big day.


However, Tracey was


concerned that Bram, who plays lead guitar in a band, would be delayed back from a gig in Wales the previous evening and be late at the church.


But as the dazzling bride


stepped from the car on her father's arm, she was delighted to learn that her bridegroom was waiting for her at the top of the aisle as arranged.


One of Tracey’s dearest A special three-page wedding feature Photos by Jeff Morris


wishes had been to get married at the Gill Church in Barnoldswick and she was especially delighted to. find that her colleagues from GUS, where she works in tele-marketing, were waiting to cheer her on.


the wedding service in a light-hearted fashion which suited the mood of the occasion, said Tracey, who was given away by her father, Will. It was followed by a marathon session of


The minister conducted


photographs as family and friends snapped away, together with the official photographer and Jeff Morris, who was taking some on behalf of East Lancashire Newspapers. After all the photographs


were taken and they were finally able to join their family and guests at the reception, they both reported aching face muscles after so much smiling on demand!


The reception at the


Oaks Hotel included marvellous food, wonderful surroundings and good company as the couple relaxed after the serious business of the day and enjoyed themselves.


It was followed by an


evening reception also at the Oaks which was a great success.


Bram and Tracey left the


next day for their honeymoon in Portugal after saying a fond farewell to everyone who had made the event so special. Said Tracey: “ It was


magical. We both think it was the best day of our lives and we'd love to do it all over again."


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