When teenagers Arnold and Sylvia King married in 1950, finances dictated a modest celebration.

Mill worker Sylvia could not afford a wedding dress and walked down the aisle in her old royal blue suit while the groom, an apprentice plumber, wore a brown suit.

The big day was captured by just three photos taken on a relative's Box Brownie camera with the ceremony followed by a dozen close family members tucking into a home-made ham salad at Sylvia's parents.

And instead of heading off for a honeymoon on their wedding night, the couple celebrated by going to the cinema. But Bradford's Empire picture house was so crowded the newlyweds could not find two seats together and had to sit apart.

Half-a-century on the Frizinghall couple's children threw them a golden wedding celebration to remember, complete with all the trimmings that were missing half a century ago. The marriage was blessed at Bradford Cathedral by Provost the Very Reverend John Richardson at 2pm on Saturday - exactly the same time they tied the knot at the since demolished St Mark's Church, Manningham, on March 11, 1950.

This time Sylvia, 67, wore a royal blue dress with satin sleeves, made by eldest daughter Carol Haythornthwaite.

The ceremony was captured on video and followed by a reception for almost 30 relatives and friends at Baildon's Marriott Hollins Hall Hotel and Country Club. The guests included Sylvia's original bridesmaid - sister-in-law Barbara McGee - and her brother Frank Brooks, who had been due to be best man but was overseas serving in the Army. The special celebration for the couple - who have four grandchildren and for many years ran King's Fireplace Shop in Keighley Road, Frizinghall - was organised by Carol, Wendy and their brother, Tony.

Sylvia said: "I think what they did for us was wonderful - it was the day we never had. When we got married we didn't have a lot of money. I've always been sad that I didn't have a wedding dress because that's what you're supposed to get married in so it was wonderful to have this dress to wear for the blessing.''

Carol said: "We were determined to give them a good time on their golden wedding anniversary and make it the type of occasion they should have had when they got married."

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