Bride and groom get married underwater in a scuba wedding ceremony

A beach side wedding just wasn't close enough to the ocean for one sea-loving couple. Instead they took things one step further and created their dream wedding - 12 metres underwater.

Chris and Janet Wright floated down the aisle happily drenched from head to toe as they exchanged their vows in a unique under-the-sea service in the Maldives.

 
The underwater aisle was decorated with fish statues, flowers drifting with the tide and a stage with the couples names written in a heart.
 
After 20-years together the couple, both keen scuba divers, got hitched surrounded by fellow holidaymakers and inquisitive fish.

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The ceremony was witnessed by a group of submerged guests with Thomas Taylor as ring bearer, Carol Bielfeld as tutu clad bridesmaid and friend Lisa Taylor as photographer.
 
After the ceremony,  oxygen tanks were uncorked, sending clouds of bubbles to the ocean surface.
 
The 58-year-old bride said: "It was totally amazing, they'd created a whole stage area with a swinging seat, it was completely magical.
 
"My big day was incredibly special, I couldn't imagine a better setting for our wedding."

 
As the pair could not speak under the water, they held up signs asking if they would take each other in holy matrimony.
 
Chris and Janet each held up cards reading: "I do" and then removed their regulators to kiss under the water.

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The couple emerged into the tropical sunlight and toured the island on a catamaran with a "just married" sail before heading back to their room for champagne and cake.
 
Chris, a chartered accountant said: "We've been together for 20 years so we just thought it was time we should get married.
 
"We've been scuba diving for years and we thought, 'Why don't we get married out here? How nice it would be to have an underwater wedding ceremony'.
 
Janet and Chris were officially married at a ceremony with family and friends at the Registry Office near their home in Cottingham, East Yorks.