MUSIC just has to be the food of love for newlyweds Melanie Holland and Andrew James McFarland.

The couple met as teenagers when they started playing in the Haslingden and Helmshore Brass Band and married at St Bartholomew's Church, Great Harwood.

To make their wedding extra special they decided that brass music should accompany the ceremony.

But as more than a third of their own group were included in the wedding party they instead asked their friends in Skipton Brass Band to serenade them.

In the Haslingden and Helmshore group, Melanie plays the tenor horn, Andrew the euphonium, Melanie's father David is the conductor, and her mother Andrea is the secretary and percussionist.

Melanie's sister and bridesmaid Gwen is a cornet player, the bridegroom's father Ian plays the trombone, his brother and best man Craig also plays the cornet and his mother Dorothy makes the tea.

Melanie's father David, of Shaftesbury Avenue, Great Harwood, said: "It was a beautiful day all round.

"The brass music made the ceremony extra special, especially the Wagner which is a very romantic piece and was played instead of the wedding march."

He added: "Brass bands are like the world's biggest club. We all help each other out."

Melanie, 25, works as a customer support manager at WH Smith, Blackpool and Andrew, 26, a bank clerk at Barclays, Blackburn, and his parents live in Mercer Crescent, Helmshore.

The couple, of Pansy Street South, Accrington, have been together nine years.

A reception was held at the Higher Trapp Country House Hotel, Simonstone, and the couple honeymooned on the Costa Brava, Spain.

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