A COUPLE are planning a magical wedding by getting married at the real life Hogwarts castle.

Harry Potter crazy Victoria Staten and Brian Sterling are jetting across the Atlantic this weekend to wed at Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, where the first two movies were made.

More than 80 guests will join them on the trip from America and Brian has even invited author JK Rowling.

International fundraiser Brian Sterling and his bride-to-be Victoria Staten from Minneapolis, USA will tie the knot at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland.

He said: "Victoria and I both love the pure magic of the Harry Potter series.

We visited Alnwick shortly after we met and decided there and then that it was the perfect location for our wedding."

Brian and Victoria met two years ago on a plane flying between New York and Minneapolis "We kept in touch by phone at first to discuss a business idea but when we met again there an instant attraction," said Brian.

He added: "We want to make our wedding a memorable and magical occasion for everyone and a real fun day for all the children among our guests."

Victoria, who is originally from Minnesota, already has two children from her previous marraige, Madison, 10, and Marina, 13, who are both pencilled in as flower girls.

During the reception, the youngsters will be given the chance to sample the wizardry and excitement of Hogwart's pupils with Quidditch-style games - the flying broomstick-and-ball contest filmed in the castle grounds.

And adding to the aura of magic and romance, international opera star Jon Christos from Brian's home area in Greater Manchester, will perform a song specially dedicated to the newlyweds.

The pair both hate cake and will instead tuck into a mound of strawberries.

And instead of Victoria walking down the aisle on the arm of her father, the pair will simultaneously saunter down either side of the fountain at the castle.

Brian and Victoria will honeymoon in Stratford-on-Avon where Victoria's ancestors lived in the 17th Century.

But Sunday's wedding at Alnwick Castle will be the highlight for Harry Potter fan Victoria.

She said: "The castle is so beautiful and they were so receptive to what we wanted. You could say we have unusual taste.

"We don't want to have a wedding like the normal bride and groom. I've been to the castle twice, I love the combination of the green countryside and the hundreds and hundreds of years of history there."

Brian, who runs the Record Breakers International Fundraisers for Charities organisation and Victoria, the former group vice chairman of New York fashion house Kenneth Cole and who now run her own baby wear and baby stroller company, are also making sure that their big day conjures up a pot of cash for their charities.

Instead of wedding gifts, they want their guests to donate to charity and will announce the launch of their Push for Peace campaign to raise money for families challenged by the effects of domestic violence and war.

The campaign - to take place in Minneapolis in the autumn - was inspired when Victoria and Brian tested a new baby stroller in parkland around her home.

"Our aim is to establish a Guinness World Record with a moving symbol of peace comprising the largest ever number of mothers pushing their children in strollers in one place," said Brian.

Funds from the Push for Peace event will be shared with the Record Breakers new US charity "partners", Tee It Up for the Troops, that raises money for US troops and their families. President Bush is one of its many high profile supporters.

For Brian and Victoria it will also be a world record wedding - with as many as nine Guinness world record holders among the guests. Apart from Brian himself (a five times world record holder in martial arts, block breaking and fire stunts), they will include his best man, Stuart Hurst, a three times martial arts champion and the King of Thailand's champion..

Geoff Capes, twice acclaimed as the World's Strongest Man, is also on the guest list along with Hollyoaks soap star Helen Pearson.

"A number of people who broke the world group plate spinning record in Spain will also be there. I just hope they don't demonstrate their skills with the castle's tableware," joked Brian.

The non-denominational ceremony will be conducted by Drew Baldridge, an ordained minister from Minnesota and friend of the couple, who, with his wife Heather, will be among the 80 guests flying in from America.