Army captain who used to be a man marries actor who used to be a woman
Transgender soldier Hannah weds actor Jake who was born a woman
She joined the Army as a man and is the highest-ranking transgender soldier. he is an actor and film-maker who was born a woman. But hannah Winterbourne and Jake Graf insist they are ‘just like any other bride and groom’. Captain Winterbourne, 31, and Mr Graf, 40, were married on Friday in a wedding they say was ‘like a Disney movie’. The bride wore a figure-hugging strapless white gown with a veil, while the groom was dressed in a smart dark suit with white tie. The ceremony, at Chelsea Town hall, was attended by close friends and family. The couple broke a glass under their feet in recognition of Mr Graf’s Jewish heritage. Captain Winterbourne, who serves with the Royal electrical Mechanical engineers, will live with her new husband in Army married quarters near her barracks. She told The Sun: ‘ I never thought when I was younger this could happen to me. It was always a pipe dream.’ She insisted: ‘We’re just like any other bride and groom. To me, I’m just another girl married to another guy. As you transition and meet someone new you kind of forget about your past.’ Mr Graf said: ‘Friends and family donated flowers, the cake. The ceremony was absolutely magical. hannah looked stunning, and we both cried as she walked down the aisle, as did many of our guests. We had two beautiful readings, and simple vows. ‘We’re just the same as everyone else, with our flaws and ups and downs – but a little bit different.’ Captain Winterbourne made the decision to transition into a woman five years ago during a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Mr Graf, who was in eddie Redmayne film The Danish Girl, knew as a child that he wanted to be a boy and began gender reassignment in his late 20s. The couple met after Mr Graf saw a newspaper article about Captain Winterbourne three years ago and contacted her through social media. She says she was ‘absolutely terrified’ ahead of their first meeting because she had never been on a date or had a boyfriend before, although it helped that Mr Graf is also transgender. ‘I didn’t have to explain myself. he knew how to deal with it. he understood,’ she said. ‘I was really insecure about dating. But I decided now was the time to push myself out there and see if there was a person out there who could love me. And I hit the jackpot the first time.’ Captain Winterbourne said the wedding was a dream come true. ‘Growing up, I’d watch Disney films and there would always be a beautiful woman in a beautiful gown,’ she said. ‘You’d always look at feminine things and wish it could be you but I wasn’t able to express it. ‘There are not many more things that are feminine than a bride in a beautiful wedding dress. ‘I never thought when I was young it could happen to me. Until I met Jake, I never realised it was a goal I could achieve. It’s not sunk in yet.’ Mr Graf, who proposed in September during a boat ride in New York’s Central Park, said the feelings were mutual. ‘I never thought any of this was a possibility,’ he said. ‘Now I’ve got this beautiful Army captain wife and I’m so happy.’ Mr Graf, who will appear in the upcoming ITV transgender drama Butterfly, starring Anna Friel, said the couple have been fortunate enough to escape much of the prejudice faced by trans individuals – as most people do not realise that they are transgender. ‘We’re lucky enough that we both look like any other person walking down the street,’ he said. ‘Occasionally people will register hannah’s deep voice. By and large we pass through life without the abuse and harassment that a lot of trans people get.’ The newlyweds, who both campaign for transgender awareness, are now keen to have a family. Captain Winterbourne said: ‘We want kids sooner rather than later. I’ve definitely got broody since turning 30. A lot of my friends have got kids now. ‘We’ll go for surrogacy in the first instance and see how it goes.’ The husband and wife – who prefer not to reveal their previous names as they are ‘trying to move away from who we were before’ – plan to have their honeymoon in Tel Aviv, Israel, in May.