THE society wedding of the decade passed one happy couple by as they had their own big day to concentrate on.Julie Burkin and Simon Watterton were also married at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, four hours before the nation's media and the public descended on the 570-year-old church.

THE society wedding of the decade passed one happy couple by as they had their own big day to concentrate on.

Julie Burkin and Simon Watterton were also married at St Mary's Church, Bury St Edmunds, four hours before the nation's media and the public descended on the 570-year-old church.

Julie, whose family live in the town, said: "We had a fantastic day, it was really perfect. We were not aware of what else was going on.

"The church looked fantastic and we were really overwhelmed by the whole occasion. But we would have been whatever day it was – it just happened to be on the same day as another wedding."

The couple, who are spending their honeymoon in Borneo, have been together for more than five years and will now live in Hampshire.

They held their reception at the Angel Hotel, Bury St Edmunds, where deputy manager Lynn Cowen said: "Julie looked absolutely fantastic and everyone had a superb day."

The earlier wedding was able to benefit from the beautiful flower arrangements set up in and around the church for the wedding of Ben Goldsmith and Kate Rothschild.

One family member said: "We did benefit from the later wedding, especially with the flowers. I wouldn't have liked all their publicity – but they are probably used to it.

"It is a beautiful church and it was an ideal day to get married. Canon John Hayden was very nice, it was a lovely service and he made us all feel very welcome."

Another happy couple who enjoyed the day was Alan and Miriam Mills who were staying in the town to celebrate their second wedding anniversary.

Alan said: "When we heard members of two of the biggest families in the country were getting married in Bury, we thought it would be very interesting to have a look.

"Everything looks absolutely fantastic and the weather has been so lovely for them. We just wanted to have a look and it makes our own anniversary even more special."