WHEN Craig McFarland and Gwenneth Powell announced they were getting hitched it was music to their families' ears.
For the couple have known each other for 20 years - since they both joined Haslingden Brass Band at the tender age of eight! And where music is concerned, they are more than happy to keep it in the family. As well as Craig on flugel horn and Gwenneth, 28, on principal cornet, there are no fewer than five members of their immediate family in the band's line-up.
Craig's dad, Ian, is a trombonist, while his brother, Andrew, is in the band's percussion session.
Housewife Gwenneth's sister Melanie - who is married to Craig's brother Andrew - is also a cornet player, while her mum Andrea is on percussion and dad David is the band's conductor.
Craig, 29, a software consultant, who lives with Gwenneth in Kirkhall Avenue, Haslingden, said: "Both my dad and brother were in the band when I joined, so it was just a family thing.
"There is really only my mum who isn't involved and that's because she isn't really musically-minded.
"Gwenneth joined at about the same time. We did go out a few times when we were younger at about the age of 14 and then again at the age of 18."
When he was in his early 20s, Craig moved away from the area to live in Northampton for five years.
And it was only when he returned to the area last year that the couple decided to get hitched.
They were married and had their reception at Northcote Manor, Langho, yesterday.
But they didn't have any live music because members of the brass band were either at the wedding as family or as guests.
And because they are so dedicated to their music, the couple have even postponed their honeymoon to take part in a competition in November.
Craig said: "We have had to put our honeymoon our hold for three weeks because there is a brass band competition in Rochdale which we have entered.
"But once that is over we plan to go to San Francisco followed by a week-long cruise in Hawaii."
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