A couple joined forces against the dark side in a Star Wars-themed wedding, attended by the dark lord himself.

Richard and Clare Stephenson, an accountant and a beauty consultant, both from Epsom, tied the knot at a ceremony in Leatherhead with a Jedi priest, Imperial Stormtroopers and Darth Vader.

The couple exchanged rings engraved with the famous line, from the George Lucas’ epic films, “may the Force be with you”, which they also uttered to each other, instead of saying the traditional “I do”.

The couple picked May 4 for their big day - a date unofficially known as Star Wars Day because of the phrase: “May the 4th be with you.”

Mr Stephenson, 31, said: “We got in touch with 501 Garrison and found out they actually did weddings so we asked if we could have some stormtroopers and Darth Vader.

"It was all a surprise - the guests knew we were going to have a Star Wars theme, but they didn’t know how ‘Star Warsy’ it was going to be.

“The company told us we could have the stormtroopers, but Darth Vader wasn’t available. Then on the day, he surprised us at the reception. It was very, very good.”

Mr and Mrs Stephenson’s two-year-old daughter, Amy, who once went to a Star Wars weekend with the couple dressed as Princess Leia - complete with buns - enjoyed it the most, according to her parents.

Mr Stephenson said: “She has a Darth Vader rubber duck which she loves, so when she saw him at the wedding she kept calling him ‘duck duck’. Then the stormtroppers started calling him Lord Duck Duck. Amy loved it.”

The couple, who have been together for six years, married at Leatherhead Register Office and had the reception at the The Preston Cross Hotel.

Mrs Stephenson, 33, had her blue dress especially made for the occasion, inspired on the style of character Queen Amidala, Luke Skywalker’s and Princess Leia’s mum.

They invited Star Wars director George Lucas to the ceremony, but received a headed letter from his studio which said he would not be able to attend and wished the couple well.