“THE lowest point was in the dark, climbing the hill when the snow was coming over the top of our boots. I didn’t want to get married at that point.”

Those were the words of bride-to-be Katie Martin who found herself and friends lost in a snow-covered wood near Wytham, Oxford, on Saturday.

But by Sunday afternoon, tears had turned to smiles as she wed Robert Salmon, right, in a picture postcard ceremony at Steventon.

The 23-year-old should have been at home on Saturday finalising plans for her special day at St Michael and All Angels church.

But bad weather forced the group, including her bridesmaid and best man, to abandon their car in back roads after five hours in traffic on the A34, and before long they were stranded in remote snow-covered woodland as darkness fell.

Miss Martin, a trainee primary school teacher, thanked everyone who helped them on their journey, including a couple in Wytham who lent them torches and a map, and a farmer who drove them in his 4x4 to meet her father.

She said: “We must have walked about four miles, we were so cold and soaking wet, I was in tears. I literally fainted with exhaustion. I couldn’t believe I was getting married the next day."

They eventually made it to Drayton, where father of the bride David Martin lives, nearly eight hours after they set off from their Eynsham home and last night the happy couple were celebrating with friends and family.

Meanwhile, in Oxford, Alexia Lionakis did not let snow ruin her wedding to Flemming George, 31.

The happy couple from Walton Street, Jericho, eventually tied the knot at Mansfield College after taking an hour and a half to reach the Head of the River pub from the Four Pillars Hotel in Abingdon Road.

One of the wedding party contacted Jack FM to appeal for a 4x4 to make sure she got to the wedding on time, and before long media from all over the country were trying to contact the couple after the appeal was re-tweeted on Twitter.

Miss Lionakis, now Mrs George, 29, said: “The toastmaster from the college ran and brought me some welly boots and we walked to the High Street and they picked me up in a Bentley in the end. I couldn’t believe it was happening. We still had a great day, the snow was beautiful.” Picture: Jon Lewis