Family church was key to traditional day

St Aiden’s Church in Bamber Bridge was the place where her mum and dad wed in 1982 and her grandparents before that in 1958, so it was important to the couple to make sure they followed in their footsteps.

They married on June 22 before heading to Stanley House for a reception.

Melissa, an accounts manager from Preston, said: “The church really means something and being married there felt perfect.

“I was emotional the day before but on the day itself I felt overwhelmed and kept the tears aside.

“My dad was emotional, I’m like his little princess and I was consoling him.

“As soon as we entered the church and I saw my husband to be, I felt great, I was looking forward to it.”

Romance blossomed when Peter and Melissa met in 2008 at their workplace.

Peter proposed to Melissa on Christmas Day morning in 2016, in the comfort of their new home.

Although keen to keep their wedding day traditional, as it is a World Cup year and so were the years Melissa’s parents and grandparents married, they decided to name the tables after footballing greats such as Sir Bobby Moore and George Best.

Peter, 38, a senior sales travel consultant, originally from Great Yarmouth said: “The weather was perfect, great speeches, impeccable and I wouldn’t change a thing. I felt very honoured and proud.”

Melissa added: “It was just perfect, we have been together for ten years, it’s not sunk in yet that we are married. Such a special day.”

They honeymooned in the Maldives and Dubai.

“I’m a seasoned traveller,” said Peter, “I’ve been all over the world, but this was Melissa’s first time ever on a flight.”

The couple live in Penwortham.