Couple marry and graduate on the same day

Leslie Perkins was still wearing her white dress when she attended the ceremony with her husband, Colin McKewan, dressed in a traditional Scottish McKewan kilt.

The students raced across the city in a taxi from their lunchtime wedding reception to attend their second special ceremony at the University of Southampton's Highfield Campus on Monday.

The pair, who met seven years ago, were so keen to get married on the same day, Leslie postponed her own graduation.

I'm glad I did as it made the event even more special and I doubt I would have had the time to change Leslie Perkins

The 42-year-old said: "I was quite worried about the timing as we didn't have long to celebrate before the graduation ceremony began. But it turned out perfectly.

"Everyone grabbed a taxi and we made it across the city with five minutes to spare to take some graduation photographs before the ceremony started."

The couple, who were married at 1030 BST, wore their graduation gowns over their wedding outfits.

They decided to organise their wedding in just three weeks so that family members who were visiting for their graduation could also see the couple get married.

Persuasive Professor

Leslie gained an MSc in Archaeological Sciences and Colin, 51, an MA in Maritime Archaeology.

And to mark their nuptials, the university's organist began playing the 'Wedding March' as they left.

New Yorker Leslie said: "I had not planned to wear my wedding dress but nine friends and one University professor persuaded me to stay in it for the graduation ceremony because they thought I looked so amazing in it.

"Looking back I'm glad I did as it made the event even more special and I doubt I would have had the time to change anyway."