Man to marry his stepmum - and her ex (his dad) will be among guests on big day

A man is set to marry his former stepmother after months of battling with French authorities.

Eric Holder, 45, will marry his father’s former wife 48-year-old Elisabeth Lorentz in the small village of Dabo in Alsace-Lorraine, in northeastern France.

Although the couple are not blood relatives, French law prohibits all unions between stepchildren and step-parents.

The couple pleaded their case through the courts only to receive a signed letter from President Francois Hollande last year reconfirming that such marriages are banned.

They finally obtained the right to marry from a local court in north-east France in June.

The prosecutor's office opposed the decision but did not appeal.

Bride-to-be Elisabeth said: “At last, it's the big day! I simply hope that our story will be useful to other couples in our situation, because I know there are some.”

But there are no hard feelings from her former husband - and her fiancé’s father - who will be among the 100 or so guests on the big day.

"He has always supported us," Elisabeth added.