Concorde couples head for cloud nine

Couples are being given the chance to walk down an aisle with a difference - on Concorde.

The retired jet has been licensed for weddings and civil partnership ceremonies, 40 years after its first supersonic flight on 1 October 1969.

It may not be taking to the skies again, but Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey, is hoping love will be in the air on their Concorde G-BBDG.

Brooklands' Concorde business manager Jan Knott, whose travel company used to charter the jet, said: "We used to get many, many requests from people wanting to get married on Concorde when it was in service.

"They couldn't then, but they can now. Concorde means a lot of things to a lot of people, whether they flew on it themselves, saw it fly overhead, or are aviation enthusiasts.

"To be able to get married on Concorde is something extra-special."

There will be room for a wedding party of 32, including the happy couple, on board the plane.

Denise Saliagopoulos, Surrey County Council's community services cabinet member, said: "We were more than happy to provide a civil wedding licence that will mean this much-loved icon of the air can continue to be a place for happy memories long into its retirement."

Wedding planner Zoe Lingard, who organises weddings in London and south-east England, said she thought the move would be a hit with couples.

She said: "Concorde has a real sense of glamour about it. It was part of British culture for so long.

"It has a retro Seventies feel about it, so I'd be tempted to include retro food and cocktails in the wedding as well. I think it would be great fun."

Brooklands, which has previously allowed brides and grooms to visit the cockpit of Concorde after being married elsewhere in the museum, is now hoping for its first booking on board the plane.

Airline meals will not be included, but couples can hold a reception underneath Concorde's famous wings.