George Gilder: John Deere machines star at operator's wedding

George Gilder, 26, and his wife Gemma, 27, tied the knot in August on his dad’s farm in Teddington, Gloucestershire, with the groom’s dreams coming true in more ways than one. 

Having worked alongside pal Jonathan Cook at Jonathan Cook Forestry Services for around a decade, George decided he wanted to finally show bemused loved ones what he does for a living. 

With the help of Jonathan, his dad Shaun and grandad Gordon, he was able to do just that, with the firm’s 1210G forwarder and 1270G harvester on display during and after the ceremony. 

“It’s always been a dream of mine to have that kit at my wedding,” George, father to nine-month-old Isla, said. “A lot of people ask what I do, and I say to them I drive a machine to pick up timber. They don’t always know what I mean. I just decided ‘sod it’. I was going to have the machines at my wedding, and that way I could point to them and say: ‘That’s what I do’. 

“It’s always been a dream of mine to show them off and, with the help of Jonathan and my old man, the dream came true. 

“I can’t thank them enough for what they did for us.” 

Grandad Gordon, who runs Gordon Gilder Transport, moved the vehicles from their Leicestershire home to Shaun’s base around two-and-a-half hours away. 

“Everyone loved it,” George said. “They were all climbing on them and getting pictures. 

“My mum and dad had a party the next day in the same marquee, and I let some have a go inside.

“Gemma was just as keen as me to have them there. She comes and sits in them with me from time to time. Whenever I am working in the yard, Gemma and Isla come and sit with me and bring me lunch. We love it.”