Kentish Express Ashford & District
Wedding tractor ride for rural newlyweds
As wedding transport goes how about a fleet of JCB tractors?
That was exactly how Tim O’Loughlin decided to arrive and whisk away his new bride Amy Chappell at the couple’s wedding in Benenden on Saturday.
Tim, who works as an agricultural contractor, has grown up driving the machines for most of his life, and both his parents are farmers.
Tim said: “I’ve driven these the length and breadth of the country and spent most of my working life in them, so thought ‘why not bring them to the wedding too’.”
One of his ushers suggested Tim and his best man Rory Snell arrived in one, but that just gave Tim the idea that they should all come in one, so they got all three.
Tim said: “I didn’t know if it was going to be gimmicky or a bit tacky, but everyone loved it.
“My wife loved it and it was her idea to go to the reception in them at Pullington Fold Farm, just a mile up the road.
“They were a feature at the reception and all the kids could climb all over them. It was a wedding and an agricultural show.”
Along with their two-year-old son Harry, the newlyweds sat in one of the cabs posing for photos before Tim and Amy, who live in High Halden, left with the groomsmen to the reception.
The vehicles were in real danger of becoming the stars of the day – and not only at Tim and Amy’s own wedding.
Tim said: “We almost stole the thunder at this wedding in Tenterden as we were driving through.
“People realised we were bowed up for a wedding and that there were three of us and all the cameras started turning. It was only for 10 seconds though. It was fantastic and absolutely brilliant, and we couldn’t have asked for a better wedding.
“It’s going to be hard to beat. My best mate is getting married and he’s said ‘thanks mate, I’ve got to work really hard now’.”
Tim added: “Amy loved it and without even thinking about it said yes.
“All she had been worried about was getting to the church but she was more excited about leaving the church in one of the JCBs.”