Times reporter Colleen Marie McDonnell, originally of Edmond, Oklahoma, married Benjamin Alexander Curtis Paviour of Thorpe Bay, Essex, in Richmond.

The wedding ceremony at Saint Elizabeth of Portugal Catholic Church, The Vineyard, November 3, 2007, was officiated by Father Philip Mathias.

After the service the bride and groom led a procession up Richmond Hill followed by their wedding party, parents and guests and stopped at The Terrace for photographs.

Colleen, 32, a reporter on the Hounslow and Brentford Times, is the daughter of Michael and Jane McDonnell of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Ben, 35, an equity dealer for Old Mutual Asset Managers, is the son of Anthony and Hilary Paviour of Thorpe Bay, Essex.

Wearing a lace and silk taffeta gown made by Carolyn Humphrey of Oklahoma City, the bride was given away by her father.

She held a posy of stephanotis flowers and wore her mother's wedding shoes from December 1970, into which she sprinkled Oklahoma red dirt to be standing on Okie earth while she took her vows.

The reception was held at Richmond Hill Hotel.

Flowers were arranged by Wild Bunch, Hill Rise, Richmond, and included autumnal roses, eucalyptus, crab apples, wild berries, stems of Oklahoma wheat and Irish barley.

Richmond chocolatier William Curley provided table favours of sea slated caramel and port chocolates.

The happy couple honeymooned in Costa Rica.