Dippy guest of honour at ‘aisle do’
TRADITION says that as well as something new, borrowed and blue, every bride should have something old at her wedding – and for one Cardiff newlywed that came in the form of a 152-million-year-old dinosaur!
When Eleri and Christian Phillips Adams, both 33, got married in front of 90 guests at the National Museum Cardiff, their unique “something old” was none other than special guest Dippy the Diplodocus.
“Looking up at Dippy as we ate our wedding breakfast was a fantastic experience and it certainly made our wedding day unique,” said Eleri.
The couple sat just under Dippy’s long neck, offering an interesting and different backdrop for a wedding photo.
And it wasn’t the only special attraction that made the city museum such a special venue for the happy pair.
Eleri added that they chose the museum as their wedding venue as a painting meant a lot to a member of her family.
“It was such a special moment to get married at Amgueddfa Cymru,” she said.
“La Parisienne, by Renoir, meant a lot to my Nain so being able to get married surrounded by all the beautiful artwork we have in Wales, and in such a historic building, is something we will never forget.”
Dippy the Diplodocus is the UK’s most famous dinosaur and was on display at the Natural History Museum in London for more than 100 years. Since he took up residence inside the London museum’s Hintze Hall, it is estimated he has been viewed by more than 90 million visitors.
Dippy is currently at the museum in Cardiff as part of a nationwide tour to inspire five million natural history adventures, encouraging everyone to explore the natural history collections and biodiversity right on their doorstep.
The dinosaur skeleton model is cast from a nearcomplete Diplodocus skeleton discovered in Wyoming, America, in 1898.
The artifact is made up of 292 bones and is an impressive 21.3m long, 4.3m wide and 4.25m high.
The museum has received the generous support of Admiral, Great Western Railway, John
Lewis and Partners’ Cardiff store, in bringing Dippy to Wales.
Dippy will be at his temporary home in Cardiff until January 26, before he heads off to Rochdale and then Norwich, where he will finish his tour this time next year.
■ For more information about Dippy’s visit to Cardiff, visit www.museum. wales/dippy