Last updated at 12:55, Wednesday, 07 January 2009

When Katie Mawson and Gary Turpin got married in June, Andy Long played a vital part on the day.

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As Katie and Gary stood at the alter of St Michael’s Church in Workington and exchanged vows, Andy was listening carefully to what was said because he was interpreting it in sign language.

Katie, 28, is profoundly deaf and family friend and sign language interpreter Andy offered to sign on her wedding day.

About a third of the congregation were deaf, including three of Katie’s bridesmaids.

Andy, from Maryport, signed the whole service word for word, including the hymns. Katie signed her vows and Andy signed the speeches at the reception.

Katie and Gary, who live in Workington, met in 2005 when they were both on a night out in the town.

As Katie had moved away to attend Birkdale School for the Deaf in Southport at the age of four, then the Northern Counties School for the Deaf in Newcastle and Doncaster College for the Deaf, she didn’t know many people in Workington so had gone out with friends who work with her mother Heather.

Gary, 25, recognised her and they soon became a couple.

A year after meeting, Gary, who has learnt sign language, proposed while they were having a meal at The Old Town House in Workington on the first anniversary of when they met on June 23, 2005.

They wanted to start organising the wedding straight away and booked a date at St Michael’s Church in Workington.

Katie, a lifeguard at Workington Leisure Centre and Pool, said: “We wanted to hold the reception at our favourite venue, the Broughton Craggs Hotel near Cockermouth, and they had space on this date.

“It was important that Andy signed at the wedding because so many of the guests were deaf.”

It was Christmas 2007 when Katie started to think about her wedding dress.

She tried on three dresses but knew the first one she tried on was the one.

“We both cried,” said mum Heather. “We knew it was the perfect choice.”

Katie wore an ivory satin dress from Champagne Brides in Workington with fitted bodice encrusted with sparkling crystals and beads.

Her best friend Alison Slack, who she first met while at Birkdale School for the Deaf, was chief bridesmaid while Vicky Sowden and Pauline Archbold, both friends from Doncaster College for the Deaf, and Sarah Sloan, the groom’s cousin, were bridesmaids.

They wore chocolate satin dresses with ivory trim on the bodice, also from Champagne Brides. Alana Mullins was flower girl.

Mum Heather said: “When Katie has made a friend in the deaf community she has made a friend for life. It is like a family and it was wonderful that they were all at the wedding. It was very emotional on the day.”

Gary, who works for Alan Dawson Associates in Workington, had two best men, his brother Daniel Turpin and best friend Stuart Jolly.

At the reception the men played football in the gardens outside the venue. As Katie’s mum and some guests were Scottish, it seemed fitting that there should be an England versus Scotland match.

First published at 11:25, Wednesday, 07 January 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk