Sometimes traditional isn't the right wedding choice

Girls may spend years dreaming of a big white wedding, complete with a church venue and luxurious dress, but the reality is often very different.

For some women it is a case of scaling back their ideas in order to make their special day an affordable one, but for others it is just that their vision of a dream ceremony has changed by the time they meet the right man.

That may well have been the case for Helen Libby when she married Darryl Smith in a Goth wedding in Manchester at the weekend.

Instead of a white wedding dress, Helen wore a black corset and long lace skirt, while the traditional music was replaced by some heavy metal.

It may not have been the kind of occasion guests were expecting when they received their wedding invitations, but it was exactly what the couple, who share a love of gothic music and literature, wanted.

Darryl told the Manchester Evening News: "I'm very happy now. I've found the true love of my life and I'm very fortunate."

The traditional lavish wedding day is obviously not what everyone wants and couples should not feel pressured into conforming to the norm simply to satisfy guests.

It's your big day and if you think demonstrating your individuality will make it that bit more special, then just go for it!

Are you sticking to the British tradition at your wedding, or will you be going for something a little less conventional?