COULD this be a picture of Henry VIII getting married to his seventh wife?Well the association with history's most notorious husband is not intended, but you could be forgiven for thinking that this wedding photograph was taken hundreds of years ago.

COULD this be a picture of Henry VIII getting married to his seventh wife?

Well the association with history's most notorious husband is not intended, but you could be

forgiven for thinking that this wedding photograph was taken hundreds of years ago.

In fact the occasion was the Tudor-style wedding of Ipswich couple Gian Piras, 28, and Laura Nuttall, 24, of Nacton Road, Ipswich.

It took place at Butley Priory, near Woodbridge.

To add a touch of authenticity to the proceedings the happy couple donned the actual costumes worn by ex-Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona and actress Cate Blanchett in the film Elizabeth.

They hired the costumes from Angels' Fancy Dress, on Shaftesbury Avenue, London, after spotting them on the internet.

Mr Piras, who was dressed as a medieval courtier, said: "I was looking for something a bit more extreme but this costume fitted me so well. It was perfect so I just had to have it."

Continuing in the period theme, a sword battle and a medieval style band entertained guests at the reception, also held at Butley Priory.

Mr Piras, a musician, said: "It is what we have always been into really. I do a lot of re-enactment battles and sword fights so we did get a bit of inspiration to do it."

Around 20 of their 60 wedding guests joined the couple in dressing up in period style costumes.

Mr Piras added: "The guests knew in advance what we were doing and were very impressed, I think.

"We had a great time and the weather was great. There was more drink to go round than there were people to drink it. The champagne was flowing like water."

WEBLINK www.fancydress.com