Couple marry with very own medieval music festival in Seaton

John Burnyeat and Karen Wilson held their very own music festival at their wedding celebration in Seaton, with guests from around the world.

WedFest, as it was known, involved the ceremony itself, afternoon tea, cocktails, live music, and pizza, all with a medieval theme.

John explained that the wedding ‘festival’ celebrated music from around the Workington area, with his own band from school coming together to perform.

The couple at Gretna Green (Image: Supplied)

The couple said: “We had the most magical, mystical, memorable day of our lives. Our medieval, festival-style wedding ceremony and celebrations (aka WedFest) at the Pack Horse in Seaton, Workington.

“We don’t do tradition. Officiated by Grand Maester Leo Shakavoom and attended by our family and friends from near and far, Workington, across the UK, Germany, Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia.

“We arrived to Buzz Elliott and Nik Downing playing The Wizard (by Uriah Heap) for the groom – and the Home and Away theme tune for the bride.

John and the shaman (Image: Supplied)

“Leo delivered a cracking ceremony, Karen performed Tina Turner’s Simply The Best and we were entertained by some amazing legendary local, national, and international musicians throughout the day and night.”

John was born and bred in Workington and has lived and worked around the UK in jobs ranging from shoveling coal to chicken farming. 

Friends and family come together to celebrate (Image: Supplied)

Karen was originally from Manchester but has spent most of her life living in Australia.

The couple now go between living in Brisbane, Australia to living in west Cumbria.

John and Karen have been together for 15 years and they first holidayed together in Poland, visiting Auschwitz and the salt mines.

They spent Covid together in Brisbane. When John’s mum became seriously ill he was allowed to return to the UK on grounds of compassion.

A band performs at WedFest (Image: Supplied)

After returning to Australia once again, the couple finally made it back to the UK together when John proposed to Karen at the Ship Inn, Workington. 

Because of English law, the couple had to elope to Gretna Green to tie the knot, then held their official ceremony with friends and family in Seaton.

Karen poses with her friends next to a mushroom sculpture (Image: Supplied)

Isabella, a young girl who was a friend of the family, said: “That was the best wedding ever.

“It was the craziest and most fun one I’ve ever been to.

“And if I could choose between having unlimited McDonald’s forever or going to the wedding I would do the wedding because it was so fun.”