MAY the fourth was a double celebration for Trowbridge couple Nick and Rachel Beavan, after the Star Wars fanatics decided to get married on the same day as the official celebration of the film franchise.

The couple, who have been together for just over a year, met when Mrs Beavan took her two boys Louis, nine, and James, seven, to Mr Beavan’s martial arts class in Trowbridge and started a kick boxing class herself.

They held their wedding and reception at Trowbridge Civic Centre and said that as soon as they got engaged they knew that they had to have their special day on Star Wars Day.

The day was chosen as a holiday by Star Wars fans for the easy pun on the catchphrase “May the force be with you”, even though it was not created or recognised by Lucasfilm, which produced the films.

“We decided straight away that we would get married on May the Fourth,” said Mr Beavan, 55, director of Martial Arts Leisure. “It’s always been a big event for both of us as we love Star Wars.

“After we decided to hold it on May the Fourth, we started looking around for a company that would be able to send Star Wars characters along to our big day, but it proved difficult at first because it is such a popular day with fans.

“Luckily, we eventually found a charity that provides characters for a donation and managed to get them to send Darth Maul and a Stormtrooper, who met our guests outside after the wedding and gave them a bit of a surprise.”

As well as having characters at their big day, the couple had Star Wars mugs holding flowers and Top Trumps cards on the tables for the reception, while their wedding post box was an inflatable R2D2.

Mrs Beavan, 47, whose sons were the ring bearers, said: “The Civic Centre was fantastic and did a very professional job throughout. The day went perfectly and it caused much hilarity when our guests walked out to see the Star Wars characters.”

Following the reception, the couple had a 70s-themed evening at the Civic Centre to coincide with the release date of the first Star Wars film, with a glam rock band performing.

“It was a fantastic evening,” said Mrs Beavan. “It seemed to go so quickly, but everyone had a great time. We are saving up to go to New Orleans next February for Mardi Gras for our honeymoon.”

Mr Beavan, who also has three children, Ross, 22, Scott, 28, and Faye, 26, added that the couple will be one of the first in line when the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens film comes out in December.