and video tapes stolen after a double wedding ceremony on Sunday.

The double weddings of Sean Kirkland to Melanie Brown and Paget Kirkland to John Critchett were soured after a bag containing film and video tapes of the wedding ceremony and reception was stolen.

"It's a devastating loss of family memories,'' said Don Allen, uncle of brother and sister Sean and Paget Kirkland.

The theft occurred as the festivities were winding down at The Royal Bermuda Yacht Club late on Sunday night.

Now family members of the newly married couples are making an impassioned plea for the thief to return the film and tapes to a neutral location.

"We are not interested in the cameras or other articles, only in recovering the hours of family memories that are on the video tapes and film,'' Mr. Allen said.

"If you have found our black Nike tote bag, please leave the video tape and 35mm film of our wedding memories at Christ Church, Middle Road, Warwick. We are offering a reward for their recovery.'' The black Nike tote bag was stripped from a moped preparing to leave the reception. The bag contained a Sony 8mm Handicam, a Minolta still camera, rolls of film, jewellry, cosmetics and a mauve bridesmaid's dress.

"Obviously they're not going to return anything else in the bag, but if they could just give us back the tape -- for us it's very special,'' said Sharon Kirkland, mother of Paget and Sean.

Police believe the bag was snatched at around 11.45 p.m.

"We were starting to gather everything up to leave,'' said Mr. Allen. "I put a bag in the bike basket and left it for three or four minutes to get more stuff. There were guests milling around within 40 feet of the bike when the bag must have been taken. I think somebody was scoping us out.'' Both newlywed couples now live in the United States, but the Kirkland siblings both wanted to return to Bermuda, where they grew up and still have family and friends, to get married.

The 75 Bermudian guests at the wedding were joined by 50 more guests who flew in from the United States.

Bob Kirkland said: "It has been such a wonderful experience -- for it to end like this is sad. It's a once in a lifetime family experience in Bermuda lost.''