A swim, cycle and run to get to church on time

But one couple from Easingwold decided not to spend the morning of their wedding worrying about their outfits and ensuring their hair was styled just so like other brides and grooms. Instead Jon Cooper and Debs Feltwell opted to take part in a triathlon.

The pair swam 400m, before cycling for 10k and running 2.5k through the spectacular Yorkshire countryside before finding the energy to head off to the church on time for their wedding in the afternoon.

Before setting off the bride appeared calm and was even given a kiss by Yorkshire’s own triathlon heroes Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, who hosted their first triathlon at the National Trust’s Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon.

Seven of the wedding guests also competed alongside the couple in the Brownlee Tri before the wedding.

Later in the day the couple were married at St Nicholas’s church in Husthwaite. The bride said she had already had her nails done but was racing off to get her hair done after Saturday’s race.

The Reverend Liz Hassall, vicar of St Nicholas’s, said, “This is a first for me – most brides are getting their hair and makeup done before a wedding, not swimming through open water and biking across the countryside.

“Jon and Debs having been coming to St Nicholas’s for a while, and I’m delighted to be leading the service as they make their vows before God.”

She said weddings were a personal and special occasion and she said it was fitting the couple were taking part in the triathlon “as it’s such a big part of their lives”.

The event, which the Brownlee brothers hope will encourage more people to take up the sport, was an appropriate choice for the bride and groom as they met at a triathlon in Zurich.

Mr Cooper, whose triathlon outfit, which included a shirt and tie and shirt cuffs, hinted at what was to come later in the day, said: “We do a lot of triathlons, so taking part in one on the morning of our wedding seems right for us.

“Debs and I met at a triathlon in Zurich in 2004, when I was competing and Debs was a spectator.

“Later on she was inspired by friends and family to take up the sport, tired of forever being the support crew I suppose!

“It’s been a hard year for us – Debs has battled with cancer this year, so the wedding will be a really special occasion for us.”

Olympic gold medallist Alistair teamed up with his brother and former world champion Jonny to host the inaugural Brownlee Triathlon on Saturday.

It was an opportunity for the entrants to compete against the Brownlees in the county where they honed their remarkable skills.

The brothers, from Bramhope, Leeds, both took part in the super-sprint event, though an injured Alistair was competing as part of a relay team, taking part in the cycling leg of the event, with other team members doing the swimming and running legs. His brother, who had been pipped in his bid to retain his world title the previous weekend, beat Alistair’s team.

Jonny said: “This has been a dream of ours and to have our first event as a sell-out is amazing. To see the age-range, number of first-time triathletes and of course the number of people from Yorkshire taking part is exactly what we hoped for.

“We want more people to take up triathlon and to enjoy it in the same way we do.”

Alistair added: “Our season didn’t quite go the way we wanted it to, but that is sport. For us, ending the season at Fountains Abbey is a real positive.”

The brothers were joined by 1,000 competitors to celebrate the inaugural sell-out event, with nearly a third of all entrants taking part in their first ever triathlon.

Jan Bibby, the regional director for the National Trust, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Alistair and Jonny, and all those taking part in the Brownlee Triathlon to Fountains Abbey.”

Spectators were able to enjoy the thrill of races taking place throughout the day, picking prime spots to enjoy the action. From Studley Royal Lake, the deer park and along the water garden and abbey ruins – there was ample opportunity to take in the sounds and sights..

World-beating brothers

The Brownlee brothers have built up a phenomenal record of success in the triathlon.

Alistair is the current Olympic champion, winning the gold medal at the London 2012 games, where his brother Jonny took the bronze medal.

Jonny was the 2012 Triathlon World Champion, and the silver medallist in 2013. His brother has two world crowns to his name.

Earlier this month, the pair competed in the final race of a series of to decide the world title but an ankle injury severely hampered Alistair on the 10km run and he finished in 52nd place. His brother, meanwhile, was pipped to the title by Spain’s Javier Gomez.