Miliband marries partner Justine

27 May 2011 Last updated at 13:10 GMT Ed Miliband and his new wife Justine

Labour leader Ed Miliband has married long-term partner Justine Thornton in a private ceremony in Nottinghamshire.

The civil ceremony took place in a luxury hotel attended by about 50 guests, including his brother David.

Mr Miliband met Ms Thornton, an environmental lawyer, in 2005 and they were engaged in March.

Before the wedding, Mr Miliband said he felt like "the luckiest guy in the world" and he was "really looking forward" to the nuptials.

'Great day'

After tying the knot in the Langar Hall country hotel near Nottingham, at a ceremony attended by family members and friends, the couple posted for pictures outside the venue.

Ms Thornton wore an ivory, empire line dress designed by Temperley while Mr Miliband wore a slate grey suit from Aquascutum.

The 25-minute ceremony included readings from Louis de Bernieres' best-selling novel Captain Corelli's Mandolin and I Carry Your Heart With Me, a poem by the American writer EE Cummings and a variety of music.

The couple used traditional wedding vows although they omitted the promise to "obey".

Following the ceremony Mr Miliband's brother, former foreign secretary David Miliband, wrote on Twitter: "Great day for Ed and Justine. They look very happy - congratulations from all the Milibands."

The Labour leader, 41, has broken with the tradition of having a best man and both he and Ms Thornton are giving speeches at the reception.

Instead of buying presents, they suggested guests give donations to children's charity Barnardo's and to Methodist Homes for the Aged.

'Right time'

Mr Miliband had faced questions about his status as an unmarried father after becoming opposition leader last September.

He told interviewers marriage was "a very important institution" but asked whether he felt it would be important, were he to become prime minister, he said he felt people were "pretty relaxed" about the issue.

But it emerged in March he had proposed last year and he told his local paper it was the "right time" for the couple to tie the knot.

Ahead of the ceremony on Friday, Mr Miliband wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter: "Thanks for all the good wishes. Really looking forward to the day. Feel like the luckiest guy in the world to be marrying Justine."

The couple are due to take a five-day honeymoon in an undisclosed location.

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Ed Miliband and Justine Thornton enjoy quiet wedding

27 May 2011 Last updated at 16:37 GMT Wedding bells - Ed Miliband weds long term partner Justine Thornton No wedding bells and slightly windswept, but a kiss - Ed Miliband and his new bride Justine Thorton were all smiles.

It was a long walk from their reception venue to meet photographers. But what DO you ask a political leader who's just got married.

So I asked the happy couple that old standby: "How are you feeling?"

"This is the happiest day of my life," said the Labour leader.

Family affair

The venue was Langar Hall, a smart hideaway in the south Nottinghamshire countryside.

Earlier, the media had staked out the hall's entrance looking for familiar Labour Party faces. No sign.

Brother David joined Ed Miliband for the wedding celebrations

The vast majority of the 50 or so guests were family, many Justine's relatives from the south Nottinghamshire and West Bridgford areas, where she was brought up and educated.

Ed's brother David arrived with his wife Louise and their children. He opened his window to greet reporters.

"Hello everyone. It's going to be a lovely day," he said.

It was. You can't beat a wedding.

Politics takes back seat

After the 25 minute civil ceremony inside, the couple emerged with the first opportunity for reporters to see Justine's wedding dress.

It was British designed: a cream, empire outfit by renowned designer Alice Temperley. His was a blue, grey suit from Aquascutum.

The couple wanted to make their special day at Langar Hall very much an occasion for family and close friends. For today, politics took a back seat.

The owner of Langar Hall, Imogen Scriving, was particularly overjoyed. She had to keep "mum" about the wedding arrangements for so long.

"They just look so happy don't they. The dress was gorgeous. It's just been a fantastic and wonderful day. So exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it," she told me.

They wanted a low key ceremony.

There wasn't even a best man's speech from brother David - that was down to the newly married couple themselves.

Next stop, a five day honeymoon, somewhere warmer and hopefully less breezy than rural Nottinghamshire.

Ed Miliband and his new wife Justine

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