Wilmslow's Luke-Matthew Iveson, 35, winner of Series 10 of The Great British Sewing Bee, has officially tied the knot with their long-time partner, Jesus, in a beautiful celebration in Gran Canaria.

After eight years together and three years of engagement, the couple decided to celebrate their love in a way that defies traditional norms, making it a heartfelt statement about LGBTQ+ marriage rights. 

Luke-Matthew said: "Getting married was incredibly important for us. We've been together long enough to know this is right for us. It was about joy, community, and staying true to who we are, rather than conforming to anyone else's expectations." 

Luke-Matthew was born and brought up in Wilmslow by their mother Janet, who still lives in the Cheshire town. Whilst Luke-Matthew and Jesus now live in Manchester, their wedding took place in a traditional Canarian house nestled in the hills, not far from Jesus' hometown of Santa Brígida. 

They married in Gran Canaria (Image-supplied).

Luke-Matthew said: "Instead of a traditional aisle setup, we walked down a ravine together. It felt like an authentic representation of our journey together. There was good food, lots of wine, and the day was filled with laughter and love.

"We also had guests completing fun dares throughout the day, however the highlight was welcoming a drag performer from Drag Race España, which felt like the perfect fit for us." 

Jesus, 31, who works as a purchase ledger supervisor, added, "For us, marriage was a celebration of our love, and we didn't feel the need to follow any rules. It was our day, and we made it uniquely ours.

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"We're lucky to have the right to marry, but we know it's not the same everywhere. In many parts of the world, LGBTQ+ marriage remains illegal, and we want to raise awareness that the fight for equality continues." 

The couple have been together for eight years and engaged for three years (Image-supplied).

Statistics show that while same-sex marriage has been a legal right in the UK since 2014, and in Spain since 2005, many countries still criminalise LGBTQ+ relationships. 70 nations worldwide have laws against same-sex marriage, and in some regions, LGBTQ+ individuals can face imprisonment or violence. 

Luke-Matthew said: "We didn't rush into marriage, it was a thoughtful decision based on our commitment to each other and our community. For us, marriage was something we chose carefully, not something we felt we had to do.

"It's essential to recognise that for many queer people, it's not about fitting into the system but reshaping it to reflect who we are. 

"We want other LGBTQ+ couples to know that they can create their own traditions and celebrate their love in ways that feel right for them. Love doesn't fit into a box, it flourishes in the spaces we create for it.

The couple hopes it inspires others to celebrate their love without boundaries (Image-supplied).

"We hope that when people see us living our truth, they can envision a world where love knows no boundaries." 

Luke-Matthew and Jesus are sharing their wedding photos for the first time, with Jesus saying, "Our goal was to create something unique to us. The experience was not just a wedding but a declaration of our love and an affirmation of our identities. We hope it inspires others to celebrate their love without boundaries." 

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