Here come the 16 bridesmaids

CHOOSING a bridesmaid for the big day is never easy - especially when you come from a large family and all your nieces want to get in on the act.

It was a dilemma Sheila Sahid solved with a dash of diplomacy - and she paid the price by ending up with not one but SIXTEEN bridesmaids and nephew Ashley Gough, eight, for her walk down the aisle.

More than 200 guests packed St Peter's Church in Eastleigh on Saturday to see the colourful spectacle when the 34-year-old mum tied the knot with builder Paul Francis.

"I was only going to have my five-year-old daughter Lauren as the bridesmaid but then everyone else asked if they could be bridesmaids too and it just seemed to snowball," said Sheila, of Lawn Road.

"Word soon got round about the wedding and it's been the talk of the street. My neighbours wanted to see the bridesmaids and many have come along to the church. It's really lovely."

The occasion had been masterminded with military precision more than ten weeks ago, and was a family affair in more ways than one.

Sheila called upon the dressmaking skills of two of her sisters who worked round the clock to make sure everyone looked just the part. Meanwhile, friends had taken charge of the catering arrangements for the wedding bash at Bishopstoke Community Centre.

"My sisters have been working very hard and staying up to midnight sewing and getting everything ready for the day. Everyone has just been brilliant," she said.

"We thought about hiring all the dresses but it would have cost a fortune. We've fitted out all the bridesmaids for about £20 for each dress and have saved hundreds of pounds."

The Rev Peter Gilks who conducted the wedding ceremony, said: "They are delightful people and this is certainly the largest number of bridesmaids I've seen at a wedding.

"Fortunately the church is a modern building and we can cope with the large numbers.''

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