A Dorset couple have decided to avoid the typical wedding day rituals and hold a music festival instead.

Rolf Startin and Samantha Barry have booked 11 bands to play at the Larmer Tree country estate in Tollard Royal in north Dorset for their wedding.

Mr Startin said: "We did not want all the guests feeling alienated in a church and a poncey reception with all that waste of money."

The wedding is taking place on Saturday and the majority of the 250 guests are planning to sleep in tents in true festival style.

The couple are not worried about gatecrashers

The wedding will be carried out by a registrar on Saturday afternoon with the music going on into the night.

The couple, who are both part-time musicians, run a recording studio at their home in Wallis Road, Talbot Village, Bournemouth.

The bands playing at the wedding are made up of musician friends, who play in pubs and venues across Dorset.

Ms Barry, 23, said: "It's an ideal opportunity for all our friends in Bournemouth to meet our relatives.

"Also a lot of our relatives haven't been to a festival gathering which is what we love to do in the summer."

Couple's website

Mr Startin, 38, a technical director for an aviation firm, said he was not even slightly worried about gatecrashers.

"I have a belief in people's decency and anyway we all know each other - it will be easy to spot a gatecrasher."

The couple have asked the guests to buy things towards the event such as cushion seating instead of traditional wedding gifts.

They can also opt to do jobs such as tidy up or look after children attending the event.

The couple have also set up a website - or "wedsite" as they have dubbed it - to explain their intentions to guests.