A Strange Marriage Ceremony

From The Monthly Chronicle of North-Country Lore & Legend of June 1891:

1891, April 25th - A strange marriage ceremony took place at South Shields. A circus curiosity, a little woman 32 inches high, was joined in matrimony to a man who stood upwards of six feet in his stockings! Another ‘‘monstrosity,” who had to sign the register by holding the pen between his teeth, he having no arms, gave the bride away. Accompanying the party was an ‘‘American giantess” weighing 44 stones, as also a couple of men measuring 7 feet 10 inches and 29 & 1/2 inches in height, respectively. The bride and bridegroom and their friends were connected with a travelling menagerie and circus.

Such a shame that no names are mentioned. Such were the insensitivities of the day, I don't suppose such details were considered as important as the graphic descriptions of their respective physical peculiarities. At least they put the word 'monstrosity' in inverted comas.

Anyway, I dug a little deeper, and found the following, similar account in The Mercury newspaper, of Hobart, Tasmania (11th June 1891):

A wedding of an extraordinary character took place at the Registrar's Office at South Shields recently, the bridal pair being a little lady mite, who is only 32in. high, and Professor Hedley, solo euphonium player, who is 6ft. 1in. in height. The gentleman who gave the lady away was Monsieur Hubert, a man without arms, who signed the marriage certificate as a witness with a pen between his teeth, and the bridesmaids were Nina, an American giantess, who is 44 stone in weight, and Setonella, the "Fire Queen". The best man was Captain Dallas, who is 7ft. 10in. high; and General Metelene, who is 29 1/2 in. in height, formed one of the party, all of whom are connected with a menagerie and circus which is travelling the country.

Though this (and other identical newspaper reports) give the name of the groom as 'Professor Hedley', I can find no trace of such a chap getting hitched in South Shields at that time - so not his real name, I suspect. And still no name for the bride!

If anyone can offer any further details then please do comment below!