SABRES were drawn in York when an American Marine married his bride in the heart of the city.

Shoppers were stopped in their tracks as a six-man guard of honour - or cordon - greeted the happy couple as they emerged from All Saints' Church, Pavement.

Staff Sergeant Scott Daubert, 33, who is based at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, and Emma Clare, 29, who moved from South London to York 18 months ago to work as deputy stage manager at the Theatre Royal, joined forces on a busy lunchtime.

The small wedding party mingled with passers-by and rose petal confetti was handed out to the crowds as the couple emerged from the 14th century church.

Wearing an ivory dress and veil, the new Mrs Daubert was stopped by her husband's military colleagues bearing their sabres.

Master Sergeant Benjamin Neal then introduced the newlyweds to the crowds before welcoming them into the Marine Corps family.

Vivien Clare, the mother-of-the-bride, said she was thrilled with the outcome of her only daughter's wedding.

She said: "It has been fantastic, we couldn't have asked for more. This whole thing has been absolutely brilliant. And Scott is such a lovely man."

Outside the church, the bride put on a purple-coloured velvet jacket, which matched the bridesmaid's outfits, and the couple posed for photographs.

The couple are moving to Texas next month.

Updated: 10:38 Friday, February 18, 2005