Weddings are individual occasions but two couples who tied the knot within two hours of each other gainst the stunning backdrop of Astwood Cove last week had some amazing similarities.

Both American brides were back on the Island after being born to US Air Force families based at Kindley Field around 40 years ago.

And while the couples enjoyed some special moments it was also a time for their parents to reflect on some of their own cherished memories.

Karen Barton, 42, from Birmingham, Alabama, was the first to hear wedding bells on Monday, marrying 50-year-old David Inman while her folks Jess and Eloise looked on.

Karen said: "My parents were stationed here for three and a half years at Kindley Air Force base from 1954 to 1958. My father was a hurricane hunter. He would go up and fly into hurricanes to get weather information.'' The weather was a source of concern on her return, she noted.

"I was a little worried. When we got here it was cloudy and windy but it was beautiful out there for our wedding.

"I wanted to get married here. I had left when I was only six months old and I had never been back. I had always wanted to come back and I finally did.

"We went back to the house we lived in at the corner of Floral Lane and Cut Road and talked to the people my parents remembered.

"They enjoyed life here.'' Karen was stunned to find she was not the only Services' daughter to make her way back to her Bermuda birthplace to tie the knot at Astwood Park.

She said: "It was an amazing irony for us both to come back here on the same day and get married.'' Two hours later, at the very same spot, Chris Armstrong, 37, got hitched to 43-year-old Dan McLoughlin.

Chris said: "The wedding was perfect. They did a great job organising it. The weather was wonderful.'' Weddings have always been associated with Bermuda for Chris.

She said: "When we were living in St. George's and there was a wedding on, my mother would dress me up and we would go and watch the couple coming out of the church.

"My mum was bouncing off the walls to be back, checking everything out. We lived in Frith's apartments next to St. Peter's Church.

"We went to look at it and the woman who was living in that apartment came out at that moment. She let us in and we talked to her for 25 minutes.'' Although she was only on the Island for two and a half years after her birth in 1962, Chris lived through some momentous times.

She said: "When people ask me where I was when Kennedy was assassinated I say I was in Bermuda on my mother's lap watching the cruise ships come in.

"John Glenn's space capsule came on tour to Bermuda and Kennedy visited the Air Force base while we were here.'' But it was missiles of another kind which were on her mother's mind.

Chris' mother Sharon said: "The most scary thing was the Cuban missile crisis which happened when Chris was just a couple of months old.

"I couldn't stop crying. I used to sit on the patio watching the planes go over.

"I hardly ever put her down. My husband Bill was on alert 24 hours a day. I didn't know what was going on. I was terrified.'' But last Monday it was all smiles as her daughter made her vows.

"It's amazing that the two brides should be so similar in background but we never knew the other parents,'' added Sharon.

"I had always wanted to bring back my daughter and youngest son to see where they were born and where they lived. They need that connection with their past.

"So when my daughter got married I suggested it to her.

"We went back to the original apartment. The people there let us go through it and take pictures. They were so nice. We left in 1964 but St. George's hasn't changed a bit.'' Eloise Barton was of the same opinion.

She said: "This is my first trip back here in 42 years. There's a little bit more traffic and a few more buildings but it's basically the same.

"It's an amazing coincidence that our weddings should be booked so closely together. I would have liked to know the other couple but we left four years before they arrived.'' Sharon said: "The wedding was absolutely fabulous. Far beyond anything we could have hoped for.

"Astwood Cove has got to be the most beautiful site, especially at sunset. It could not have been more wonderful.

"We enjoyed typical Bermudian hospitality. I love Bermuda. I am not waiting another 35 years to come back and the nicest thing is that I have a new son-in-law. He's a lovely person.'' When Sharon was last in Bermuda it was the start of an adventure and now she has returned to watch her daughter make a new life for herself.

The proud mother recalled: "I was 21-years-old and didn't know what living was.

"We bought our first car and our first furniture, in fact, I still have the receipt, but Bermuda wasn't a bad place to start.'' Wedding organiser Allister Simmons, of the Bridal Suite, said he had been astonished to find he had booked two brides with such similar backgrounds.

He said: "It was stunning. When I met both families I said welcome home.

"They were ecstatic saying `I can't believe I'm back here'.''