Tourist bride and groom get down and dirty

Neil McLean and Tabitha Luke get married in a mud pool in Rotorua. They were joined there by guests after the formalities. Photo / APN

Who knew that getting married could be so good for your skin?

British couple Neil McLean and Tabitha Luke found out just how good it was when they tied the knot in a mud pool at Hell's Gate and Waiora Spa in front of about 10 people on Monday.

The couple, who live in Worcester and have been together for 16 months, had been planning a trip to New Zealand and had talked about getting married.

Mr McLean said when the couple first met he recalled telling Ms Luke about how he studied mud at university. However, he was quick to add that he did not think that was the motivation for their choice of wedding venue.

"It was just a process of elimination ... I'm not a traditionalist. We saw Hell's Gate [online] and we just thought getting married in the mud made a lot of sense."

And finding that perfect wedding gown wasn't too much of a drama either for Ms Luke, who wore a black singlet and a wrap-around skirt with a Maori design. "I just picked up this sarong in Rotorua 10 minutes ago as well as the rings," she said.

Their six-minute wedding ended with Tauranga-based wedding celebrant Wayne Mortensen telling the couple they were now married, with the exchange of rings and the "smothering of mud".

So what was it like getting married in a mud pool? "Absolutely great. It's like a hot bath," Ms Luke said.

Their wedding was witnessed by several friends who live in New Zealand and Ms Luke's 11-year-old daughter, Tiana, who described the wedding as "different".

Guests joined the happy couple in the mud after the formalities and toasted them with a glass of bubbly and some chocolates.

- APN