Hallowe’en garden visit the perfect wedding present for corpse bride and groom

The Charlton family dressed their Brecks garden with creept delights once again last Thursday — and welcomed big Hallowe’en fans Rachel and Jon Cowley, who had exchanged their vows earlier in the day at Clifton Park Museum, with their themed wedding party in tow.

Zombie bride Rachel (35), of Kimberworth Park, said: “It just came about because Hallowe’en was the date the venue was available.

“Then the theme happened because I just thought instead of making my wedding all formal I wanted to include all the kids in the family and not take their Hallowe’en away from them.”

Rachel and Jon (44) have made it an annual tradition to visit rhe Charltons’ fantastic display in Gallow Tree Road with son George (10), who was dressed as a clown, and daughter Fearn (2), who wore a similar spooky dress to her mum.

“I think it’s lovely what they do, we always support them and donate,” said Rachel.

After the couple of six years tied the knot, they headed out trick or treating with their family — unbeknown to many that they were in their wedding outfits.

“I think everyone just thought we had made a real effort for Hallowe’een!” said Rachel.

“Staff at Clifton Park said they had been waiting all day for a themed wedding, they loved it.”

The Cowleys’ big day ended with a Hallowe’en party.

“I never imagined my wedding day would turn out like that!” said Rachel.

The Charltons have been impressing families for ten years with their creative Hallowe’en displays, which this year brought in visitors from Leicester and Nottingham.

The attraction takes husband and wife Glenn and Linda Charlton, along with their children Lauren (28) and Dean (31), around a week to put together after many months of growing their own pumpkins and creating their own decorations.

Clifton Academy art teacher Lauren said she was stunned to learn the Cowleys were just married during their visit and said they looked “amazing”.

Last week’s stunning display — which featured a 600lb pumpkin — raised more than £1,700 for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

But Lauren revealed this will be the family’s last large-scale display.

“It takes a lot to do,” she said. “The stage takes a week to put up, which means my dad has to take a week off work.

“My brother comes up from down south to help and it’s during the school holidays for me, so we need a bit of a rest as it’s a chaotic time.

“We will still do a display but just not as big.”

Lauren said the annual attraction had been a big part of her life and began when she was a child — after her dad brought a Hallowe’en tree home from Germany.

Their first charity display raised around £300 for the Teenage Cancer Trust following the death of family friend Alex Albiston, who died of bone cancer in March 2010 aged 18.

The Charltons and Alex’s friends and family have since gone on to raise a total of £162,000 in his memory.