Pictures: Oddball Wellington bikers get revved up for wedding day

But when one Shropshire couple tied the knot at the weekend they were surrounded by hundreds of friends and the roaring engines from their motorbikes.

About 300 bikers brought Newport to a standstill when Tim Holness and Jeni Booth, both 51, married at the town's Guildhall on Saturday.

The couple met eight years ago through Wellington-based Oddballs Motorcycle Club and hundreds of members escorted the bride and groom to their big day – all wearing fun hats and club t-shirts.

Mr Holness who works as a maintenance engineer, said: "I have been involved with motorcycles for a long time, and we met in the club. Jeni is a pillion passenger."

Mr Holness was driven to the service in a motorcycle-sidecar combination sat alongside his best man, while the new Mrs Holness arrived in a vintage car which was given a motorcycle escort.

One of the newlyweds' biker guests was 47-year-old Karen Roach.

She said: "Tim is chairman of the club and Jeni is secretary.

"We have the wedding here this afternoon and then we are going for the party later as well where there will be hundreds of people there too.

"We have the Oddballs here, and we also have the Bug Splatz Motorcycle Club, the Five o Clock Club and the Get Off Your Butts club.

"There are so many of us we have had to stand outside while they get married!

"And rather than having presents, they have decided to raise money for animal charities."

And it wasn't only the guests that gave a twist to the traditional.

Mrs Holness also made the fabric for her dress which is entirely felt, while biker friends made cakes, brooches and flowers for the big day.

Guest Elaine Heeley, 51 said: "We've been partying since yesterday.

"But everything has been done on a shoestring really – everyone has helped with donations and made different things.

"But that is what bikers do, we all help each other and people have been so kind with donations of making cakes and puddings and all sorts.

"We did stop traffic earlier in Newport when we escorted them, but everyone is understanding and very good about it."

She added: "It has been a great day for everyone – the rest of the night will be too."