1 DAY, 2 COUNTRIES, 3 MODES OF TRANSPORT, EXPERIENTIAL WEDDING CROSSES RAIL, ROAD AND SEA AS IT RECREATES HISTORY

Greater Manchester couple Ben Miller, 32, and Lorenzo Garofalo, 45, are set to turn their wedding into a full experience recreating the famous Belle Trains, or Boat Trains, of the 1930s as they take their entire party on the journey from Liverpool to Edinburgh and back in an event that combines the Northern Belle luxury train with permanently docked floating hotel, Fingal.

"We knew we wanted to do something unique," says Ben Miller. "But I don't think either of us envisioned the day we've crafted or the unique complexities we're having to work out as we take our wedding party across 3 modes of transport as we do a 460-mile round trip. I don't think anyone has ever combined a journey on the Northern Belle with the beauty of the Fingal's ballroom, and certainly not for a wedding."

Notable Belle Trains mirrored the luxury of Cruise Liners while transporting the affluent clientele and eager travellers from the major cities to ports served by Cunard and White Star Line ships, a key start and end to their transatlantic travels. In a unique wedding like no other the wedding party shall travel of the luxurious Northern Belle, a recreation of those opulent Belle Trains, before conducting the wedding ceremony in the ballroom of the vessel Fingal. In the Railway200 year the couple feel this is a way to honour the historic Boat Trains in recreating this for their wedding day.

For experience producer, Ben Miller, the challenge was worth taking, "we wanted to create unforgettable memories for our guests while also creating a day that was so different to the normal format of a wedding. A wedding should be a story of the couple's life so it seemed natural to create an experiential wedding with a narrative through line that allows us and our guests to live their 1930s fantasy."

The Northern Belle luxury train is known for its elegant décor and gourmet dining as it replicates the romance of travel of the 1930s. The train representing the couples passion for both history and travel. The train will take the wedding party north, from Liverpool to Scotland, accompanied with onboard entertainment and a 3 course brunch. When in Edinburgh the wedding party transfer by road to the Fingal, a former lighthouse service ship that has been transformed into a 5 star floating hotel and sister to the Royal Yacht Britannia.

"I love maritime history," adds Lorenzo Garofalo. "The ship represents his history working on cruise ships alongside my fascination with the golden age of transatlantic liners while also adding a key puzzle piece to the history of the railways. Everyone thinks we're mad for making our day so complex but we wouldn't have it any other way. Trains have been a big part of our relationship and continue to be a favoured day out for us."

For the couple weddings are more just ceremonies, they are narratives rich with story and personal symbolism on a multi-sensory journey like a living storybook. The emotional resonance is coupled with a want for fun, entertainment and innovation immersion.

As celebrations pepper the nation across both heritage and national rail groups, the historic recreation through this wedding will certainly leave a lasting impression and be a personalised event as part of the wider Railway 200 celebrations. Spanning two countries and three modes of transport in the one day will set a new precedent for experiential weddings when it takes place in May 2025.

3 Hulbert Street
Bury
BL8 2NU

Ben Miller (Groom)

Ben Miller, 32, known professionally as Ben Millerman, is a Producer in the Themed Entertainment and Experiences industry. Working globally across Theme Parks, Themed Dining, Themed Retail, Cruise Ships, Attractions & Experiences. Prior to that he worked for 12 years as a Producer, Performer and Stage Manager in UK Theatre.

Originally from Sheffield, but now residing in Greater Manchester, he re-trained during the pandemic at Alliance Manchester Business School with a Master's Degree in International Business and Management.

Lorenzo Garofalo (Groom)

Lorenzo Garofalo, 45, is originally from Bury in Greater Manchester but is of Italian heritage with his family originating from Naples.

Ben & Lorenzo met over 7 years ago when bumping into each other in the local supermarket.

Northern Belle Luxury Train (Venue)

The Northern Belle, often voted one of "the best train trips in the world" by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine, is a luxury train that traverses the UK offering guests fine dining and exceptional service amongst its opulent carriages. Evoking the romance of the 1930's Belle Trains, the carriages were restored by the Venice-Simplon Orient Express in 2000.

Fingal Edinburgh (Venue)

The Fingal, commissioned in 1963 as a tender boat for the Northern Lighthouse Board, is now owned by the Royal Yacht Britannia Trust and has been transformed into a luxury floating hotel. The £5million conversion created 14 bedrooms, ballroom and Lighthouse bar and private dining room. Permanently docked in Leith, Fingal Hotel is now a five-star luxury floating hotel, winning TripAdvisor's No.1 UK Luxury Hotel & TripAdvisor's No.1 UK Small & Boutique Hotel. AA Hotel of the Year Scotland, Hotel of the Year (PoB Hotels) with the onboard restaurant, The Lighthouse Restaurant & Bar, awarded 2 AA Rosettes for culinary excellence. Fingal Hotel has also achieved the Keep Scotland Beautiful Gold Level National Award for Environmental Excellence and Green Key.

Railway 200
Railway 200 celebrates the 200th anniversary of the first passenger railway, a ground-breaking moment that revolutionized travel and transformed society. This year-long commemoration highlights the innovation, engineering marvels, and cultural impact of the railways, honouring two centuries of connecting people, places, and stories across the globe.