All eyes may be fixed on Westminster Abbey tomorrow for the nuptials of William and Kate – but a Hackney church will also be hosting its own right royal wedding knees-up in the very heart of the borough.

Helene Gullaksen, 46, and John Moore, 47, will be tying the knot at St Peter’s Church in Northchurch Terrace, De Beauvoir Town, on Friday afternoon (April 29) after following the royal couple’s lead.

“We decided it would be a great day to have the wedding because we have friends and family coming from all over and it helps to have the extra bank holiday,” said Helene, who is originally from Norway.

“It is also lovely to see the spirit of the British getting in on the action and celebrating the royal wedding.

“We will be thinking of William and Kate of course, and wishing them the best.”

The couple, who live in De Beauvoir Road, met in 1994 when they were studying for an architecture diploma in at the University of East London. John proposed in February.

They will be the first to hold their reception in the church’s recently refurbished crypt and guests will go on to a party at the nearby Scolt Head pub in Culford Road.

Like Wills and Kate, the location of the newlyweds’ honeymoon is still under wraps.

But while the royal couple will be tucking into a cake from Leicestershire, riding in a golden carriage to Buckingham Place and watched by 1,900 wedding guests from all over the world, Helene and John will be keeping their ceremony closer to home.

“The caterers are right next to the church, our photographer lives nearby and our guests are all staying in local B&Bs and hotels,” said Helene.

Rev Fraser Dyer, who will be taking Helene and John’s ceremony, said:“We are delighted to welcome Helene, John and their friends and family to our church on this doubly special day. The local community is committed to raising �50,000 towards the cost of developing the crypt with a range of fund-raising events – and we are already over half-way to our target.”