ONE happy couple carried on a family tradition when they got married in a Dorset church.

Gill Brooks, 35, a part-time book keeper and Barry Payne, 45, an engineering manager at the chocolate factory in Dorchester, tied the knot on April 21 at Whitchurch Canonicorum Church.

The bride’s parents, sister and grandparents were also married at the church.

The West Bay couple had a reception afterwards at Whitchurch Village Hall.

The couple said they were very lucky with the weather and were able to walk down from the church.

They had 100 guests during the day and 200 for the evening.

Romance blossomed after the pair met again after 20 years when a friend fixed them up.

The bride’s daughters Amelia Brown, eight, and Verity Brown, five, were the bridesmaids and Verity stood up at the reception and gave a little speech thanking everyone for coming to the wedding.

The first dance was to Heartbeats by Jose Gonzalez.

The bride said: “It was an amazing day.

“It all turned out perfectly.”

The couple would like to thank all their friends and family for a wonderful day and a special thank you to everyone who arranged surprises like their wedding cars, the wedding cake and hair and make-up.

The bride gave a special thanks to her parents.

The happy couple will be going away on honeymoon this month.