On Friday the 20th, the day before the main event, we will celebrate our civil wedding with a small family gathering. The emphasis is very much on the church ceremony the following day, so only our closest family and friends will be invited to Friday's proceedings.

We need this separate legal bit because Fr Tim, a British Catholic priest, cannot in Finland legally marry couples. Having a civil ceremony the day before is the least complicated way of making sure that we are completely married when we come out of the church on Saturday!

We will celebrate afterwards with an intimate lunch at the family summer-house on the island of Replot, north-west of Vasa.