A BRIDE used her late father’s camper van to get her to the church on time.
While some brides dream of a posh car or a horse drawn carriage, Amie Tekeian-Gash, from Coedpoeth, wanted a ‘camper van of love’ which has been in the family for 25 years, doing thousands of miles.
Meroojan Tekeian bought the blue Volkswagen in 1988 and took the family on holidays all over Europe including Spain, St Tropez, Berlin and Vienna, never once breaking down.
Mr Tekeian died five years ago but there was still a part of him at his daughter’s wedding thanks to his van, which the family always called ‘The Tecko Van’.
Travelling in the van, Amie arrived in time to marry the love of her life, self-employed builder Chris Gash, 42.
Amie, 27, said: “Dad used to turn up to school to pick us up in the van and I used to be so embarrassed.
“Now I have ended up using it as my wedding car.
“I even said to Chris that if the van breaks down on the way to the wedding then it’s a sign my dad doesn’t want me to marry him.” But true to its form, The Tecko Van got the bride to St Giles’ Parish Church on time and to the reception at Chester Racecourse.
“I felt like my dad was taking me to my wedding and there was a piece of him there,” said Amie, who is originally from the Rhosddu area.
When Mr Tekeian died he was in the process of changing the van’s engine.
But dental nurse Amie, who works in Ruabon, was not going to let the camper van fall into ruin and decided to spend about £5,000 on the van, getting it all done up for her wedding, and passed on her idea to Simon Edwards from Body Perfect garage, Rhosrobin, who carried out the work.
She said: “Everyone around Wrexham knows the van and it is very well known.
“My dad used to own Tekeian’s off licence on Rhosddu Road and everyone knew him and the van.
“Now we are are going to pimp it out on the inside and take it to the VW camper van shows.
“We will never sell it because dad loved it and it was his pride and joy.”