A FORMER police officer has made it to the regional finals of a national wedding award.

Manningtree town councillor Michelle Taylor retrained as a celebrant, offering wedding ceremonies and naming ceremonies for babies, after 32 years as a police officer.

Over the past six years in the role she has worked with more than 100 couples and conducted ceremonies in back gardens, apple orchards and even on lakes ranging from a steampunk-themed wedding to a pagan celebration.

She has now been announced as a finalist in the East of England regional final of the national Wedding Industry Awards 2018.

Michelle said: “I’m so thrilled that I’ve been named a finalist in these awards.

“It’s wonderful that celebrancy is finally being recognised by the wedding industry.”

Couples who use a celebrant still need to visit the registry office to legally marry in England and Wales.

But after reciting two contractual sentences and signing the register in front of two witnesses, the celebrancy wedding takes over where rings and vows are exchanged in their own style.

Michelle added: “More couples are choosing to get married in their own way and some really do allow their imaginations to run wild.

“It can be as wacky and quirky as they like, they use their own words and it really is about the couple coming together in a way they want to.”

Couples across the East of England nominated and voted for their celebrant to make it to the final. The winner will be judged by four celebrants and announced on November 15 at an event in Newmarket.

The winner will go through to the national finals in London in January 2018.