WHILE millions of people worldwide were watching the royal wedding, a little bit closer to home a couple were celebrating their nuptials in Maldon.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said their vows at St George’s Chapel in Windsor in front of 600 family and friends.

But for high school sweethearts Susie Bailey and Callum McGrath, both 26, it was a smaller affair as they said ‘I Do’ at Ulting Church on Saturday.

The couple, who have been together for eight years, followed their intimate church wedding with a reception at the Warren Golf Club in Woodham Walter.

Callum said: “We went to Honywood School together.

“Embarrassingly I really liked her in school but she wasn’t too fussed.

“It wasn’t until we were both at Colchester Sixth Form College it went the other way.”

Their relationship blossomed and they got engaged in May last year at the top of a mountain in Croatia.

Callum said: “The highest mountain is Mount Dinara, we had never been there before.

“I remember Susie saying she didn’t want to be proposed to in front of loads of people so it was the only place with no-one around.

“It was a five hour trek to the top so we were both a bit delirious, so when I asked she said no in surprise before saying yes.”

The couple faced another five hour trek down but managed to stop for a small bottle of Prosecco in travel glasses.

They had to plan the wedding day around the summer due to Callum’s old job as a data analyst for a football club. It needed to be after the end of the season but before the World Cup.

After the stress of moving house, they had about three months to finalise plans.

The guests at the wedding of the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex included chat show queen Oprah Winfrey, tennis champion Serena Williams, actor George Clooney and his barrister wife Amal.

But for Callum and Susie it was about keeping the wedding on a small scale – they wanted the smallest church possible for close family and friends and settled on Ulting.

Callum, of Bergholt Road, Colchester, said: “We are not massive on being in the limelight so we wanted to keep it simple. There will be 65 guests in the day.

“Like everything does, we went over budget, a little more than £14,000.”

Callum’s mum Tracy, who owns a salon in Earls Colne, made a window display to celebrate her son’s day.

Callum added: “We weren’t too fussed when we found out it was the same day, but the closer it’s got it’s all everyone is talking about.

“It’s the FA Cup which I’m more annoyed about because Manchester United are playing and I’m a fan.

“We will be able to watch a bit of the wedding before going to the church but Man U will kick off as I’m giving my speech.”

“I’ll have to check my phone for the score.”

Callum and Susie have tried to avoid looking at the Royals’ plans, much preferring their small, intimate day.

They will spend four days in Catalonia as a honeymoon before jetting off on a three week tour of America at the end of the year.