The bank holiday weekend kicked off with a fairytale celebration as more than 100 guests crammed their way into a village church for a wedding “rivalling any in Hello! magazine”.

Kieran Duffy, 25, and Emmie Houckham, 21, tied the knot in front of scores of friends and family at All Saints Church in Staplehurst on Friday, as many couples may also have done over the long weekend, when the gloomy rain and wind of recent days made way for sunshine and temperatures approaching 30 degrees.

But their story is unique, in that they were both born with Down’s Syndrome and have battled to prove wrong those who have told them, throughout their lives, what they can’t do.

In overcoming their latest and biggest hurdle yet, the Bearsted couple successfully planned and arranged their wedding and committed their futures to one another in a beautiful ceremony filled with smiles and laughter.

As well as their vows to each other, the pair encouraged all the guests in attendance to promise to “meet, speak to and laugh with strangers” and to “return home with fabulous memories of this day”.

Traditional hymns were replaced with powerful pop classics from years gone by, including The Wonder of You by Elvis Presley and Make You Feel My Love by Adele.

There was also a reading of the lyrics of You’re The One That I Want - made famous by the cinematic musical Grease - which brought joy and laughter to all those watching on.

Kieran is no stranger to the spotlight, having stolen headlines in 2012 when he celebrated picking up nine and a half GCSE passes at a mainstream school - believed to be the first achievement of its kind in Kent for someone with his condition.

The pair first met six years ago at a camp for people requiring additional needs, and quickly became close.

On Boxing Day 2016, Kieran proposed to his partner in typically theatrical fashion, by singing the Wham! classic I’m Your Man, before getting down on one knee to give Emmie a diamond and pink sapphire ring.

The couple told guests: “Thank you for joining us on our very special day, a day we have looked forward to and have planned for a long time. Today is made extra special by you coming to join us.”

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