A BRIDE and groom tied the knot at Glastonbury Festival – with a crowd of 500 strangers cheering them on.
Michael Anastasio, 32, and Francesca Anastasio, 35, have attended the festival together three times over their six-and-a-half year relationship – with the couple unable to think of “anywhere better”; to get married.
After the pair found they were amongst the lucky few to get tickets to the biggest festival in Europe, along with 15 members of their bridal party, they started planning to tie the knot there.
A last-minute cancellation of their celebrant meant Francesca had to call out for help on Facebook groups – with a replacement stepping in alongside photographers and hairdressers.
Tying the knot in front of the iconic Glastonbury signage, the lovebirds were amazed to see crowds of people gather to watch their special moment.
Francesca, a veteran’s charity worker, from Wymondham, Norfolk, said: “I’ve been coming to Glastonbury for eight years.
“When I met Mike I brought him and I was so excited.
“It became such a special place for us.
“There wouldn’t be anywhere better to get married than at Glastonbury.
“Everyone is so lovely and it’s got such a special energy.
“We had a celebrant and unfortunately two weeks before they pulled out.
“I went onto the Glastonbury Facebook groups and asked if anyone could be a celebrant for us.
“We met a lovely woman called Katie who was more than happy to do it for us.”;
Others stepped in to help with a photographer shooting the couple’s ceremony, and the hair station at the festival helping with last minute do’s.
There wouldn’t be anywhere better to get married than at Glastonbury
Francesca Anastasio
“All of these amazing people came forward and offered free things to help make our wedding happen,”; Francesca said.
“Our friends sorted a lot of stuff.
“One of our friends brought a cake in a cool box.
“There were 15 of us in the bridal party.
“The celebrant and photographers brought their friends but when we were actually on the hill getting married there were 400 to 500 people watching.
“It was incredible.
“People were live streaming it on Instagram, it was really surreal.”;
SHEIN GOWN
The couple’s outfits were sourced on a budget, with bride Francesca’s bargain dress just £27 from Shein, and Michael’s suit £150 from ASOS.
Ringing in their nuptials over a few drinks, the party went to watch DJ Four Tet in the evening, followed by band Oh My God It’s The Church.
“It’s nice on the Thursday, it’s quite a chilled day just enjoying the sunshine and wandering around the site really.
“We’re treating this as a honeymoon really.
“It was stag and hen do’s on the Wednesday, the wedding on the Thursday and the rest of the time as a honeymoon.”;
