Mel + Alan at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre | September 2026
“IT WAS ICONIC. Like 10/10
No 20 out of 10”
Oh, I loved this wedding so much.
And it wasn’t just how delightfully different it felt, being held in a vintage railway station.
And it wasn’t just all the whimsically thoughtful - and thoughtfully whimsical - things Mel and Alan had dreamed up to make the train-theme pop.
On top of all of that, what I loved was how packed that station became, with Mel-and-Alan fans. Their friends and family, pouring off the coach and through the doors, just bursting at the seams to get to celebrate this day. This Melan Fest. It was a delight to behold.
Photos by the lovely Joanna Nicole Photography
Mel and Alan are beacons of enthusiasm and kindness, the sort of people who loudly celebrate those around them, showing up in their friendships, so the joy was in observing the dozens and dozens (hundreds!) of people who showed up to celebrate them.
The evidence was so clear, of how they are valued: that huge turn-out of loved ones, everyone on board (pun intended) with Alan’s love of trains, and everyone delighted that they found each other.
It was Alan and Mel’s turn to be at the centre. Top billing. The main characters.
The set-up at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre was that the ceremony took place in a light, bright platform space between two beautiful old steam trains. It felt such an original spot to say your vows, hugged on each side by these majestic old locomotives.
As a joke for the guests, when Mel (who, herself, has a wedding celebrant accreditation) got to the top of the aisle she went to take the microphone and take charge. “This is not your gig” I chastised her (as we’d agreed!), and the audience loved it. I don’t usually refer to the assembled friends and family as an “audience” but Mel and I share a love of a bit o’ am-dram, darling.
And then as a little surprise for his bride, Alan began the ceremony by taking a proper camera photo of Mel [above], and then handing Mel the camera so she could document the same moment, but from her perspective. A top-of-the-aisle duo of photos to treasure forever.
Mel has kept in touch with so many cohorts and acquaintances in her life that not only did a lifelong friend come forward to do a reading, but Mel’s secondary school drama teacher did a reading too. It ended up being one of the most precious moments of the ceremony, both Miss Andrew (of course we had to full-teacher-name her!) and Mel in tears.
In proof that the world is tiny, reader Laura was in my sister’s class at school, a complete coincidence
The train-themed additions were delightfully camp: the MC had both red and green flags to direct guests (and a whistle!), the wedding cake(s) were carriages, the invitations were tickets, the order of the day was a transport timetable. It was all very fun, very silly in the best sort of way, but it didn’t distract from the heart of the thing.
And the heart of it all? That you are safe to be silly when you feel so known. That love can look like celebrating your partner’s hobbies, history and idiosyncrasies with the full force of your enthusiasm. Because what they enjoy gives you so much enjoyment too.
None of us couldn’t stop smiling, not if you paid us
And - if I can end on a train analogy - that it’s about the journey, not the destination. The sheer amount of good will in that room for these two people - and this marriage - was because they did not build their entire purpose around the pursuit of romantic love, but had revelled in the journey to this point, making - and maintaining - so many friendships along the way. Love in all its forms.