Home   Canterbury   News   Article

Couple Larisa and Tony Caplin get married all over the world... five times

For most couples, the stress of planning a wedding is quite enough just once.

But Larisa and Tony Caplin can’t stop tying the knot in romantic ceremonies around the world.

After a simple civil service at Canterbury’s register office in 2005, they have gone on to exchange vows in India, Egypt, Thailand and Las Vegas.

The pair met on a fruit farm near Faversham, where Tony works as a supervisor, when Russian-born Larisa arrived for the summer 11 years ago to pick strawberries.

Loved-up couple Tony and Larisa Caplin who have been married five times
Loved-up couple Tony and Larisa Caplin who have been married five times

But it wasn’t a relationship that was ripe for sweet romance right from the start.

“To be honest, I didn’t like her at first and thought she was a bit of a nuisance,” says 51-year-old Tony.

“She just had too much to say and because she was the best English-speaker among the Russian workforce, she kept piping up a bit too often.”

But Tony was increasingly drawn to the feisty fruit-picker and felt sorry for her when she came to work one day with a black eye after she was accidentally hit in the face with a table tennis bat.

Larisa, 30, said: “He started to leave me little notes and it just went from there and we began going out.”

Instead of being at loggerheads they became lovers and Larisa says she soon knew they were going to stay together.

The couple, who live in Godwin Road, Thanington, were married in Canterbury in November 2005, just six months after meeting.

Tony and Larisa Caplin's wedding in Las Vegas with guest 'Elvis Presley'
Tony and Larisa Caplin's wedding in Las Vegas with guest 'Elvis Presley'
Tony and Larisa Caplin on their first wedding day in Canterbury
Tony and Larisa Caplin on their first wedding day in Canterbury
Tony and Larisa Caplin's wedding in Goa
Tony and Larisa Caplin's wedding in Goa
Wedding bells ring for Tony and Larisa in Egypt
Wedding bells ring for Tony and Larisa in Egypt
Tony and Larisa try their hand at a Thai wedding
Tony and Larisa try their hand at a Thai wedding

Since then they have exchanged their vows in exotic locations around the world, most recently in Las Vegas in 2011.

Larisa, who studied management, now works as a guest services manager for Holiday Inn.

She said: “I think Tony is more romantic than me. He stills writes me poems and is always texting me love messages.”

Tony said: “I guess I can’t help being a romantic.

“We have been married in some wonderful places where the ceremonies have always felt special because of the locations and local traditions, – except perhaps for Vegas, which was really just a bit of fun.”

The couple now have three children, but a life-threatening illness to their youngest, Charlie, who needed heart surgery, brought them even closer.

Tony said: “It was touch and go for a while and made us realise what we had together and definitely brought us closer.”

Tony and Larisa Caplin with their children Emlyn, 5, Ramashka Buttercup, 3 and Charlie, 18 months
Tony and Larisa Caplin with their children Emlyn, 5, Ramashka Buttercup, 3 and Charlie, 18 months

Despite their love-filled relationship, the couple still say they have their differences.

Larisa said: “We can’t agree on what movies we like to watch and we tried going to dancing classes but that didn’t work because we were both rubbish at it.”

Larisa also volunteers at the children’s Sure Start centre in Canterbury and Tony works as a part-time children’s entertainer.

He said: “We do share the same sense of humour, which is really important, and Larisa even gets involved in my show and has been helping build my website.

“Our friends think we are a bit mad getting married so many times but I think we have one more ceremony left, which is actually quite important, and that is back in Larisa’s home town of Chelyabinsk.

“That would actually be quite special for both of us. I’m sure that will be our last – but never say never.”

Close This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.Learn More