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Romance fills the air as 80 couples celebrate love

John Bray
BBC News, Coventry Cathedral
The central area of Coventry Cathedral with people sat in long rows facing each other and two presenters stood in the middle
A line of guests at Coventry Cathedral wearing suits and wedding dresses
The layout of Coventry Cathedral was transformed for the event
In the run-up to the event, BBC CWR heard from several couples with maybe unconventional love stories - from a "lunch out ploy proposal" to a "romantic postie" acting out a scene from Love Actually

Dozens of people confirmed their love for each other on a special Valentine's Day event at a city cathedral.

Organised by BBC CWR, the We Still Do celebration saw 80 couples fill Coventry Cathedral with family and friends to renew their commitment to each other.

Some turned up in their original wedding outfits, several now had children in tow - and one couple even brought their beloved dog with them.

Guests were also treated to a surprise appearance from pop star Pixie Lott as well as a reading from actor Yasmin Wilde - with the event streamed live on the BBC iPlayer.

Singer in a red dress performs in the central aisle, watched by guests at Coventry Cathedral
Singer in a red dress performs in the central aisle, watched by guests at Coventry Cathedral
Pixie Lott, who has had three UK number ones and took part in Strictly Come Dancing, performed two songs on Friday - a cover of Coldplay's All My Love and her new single Show You Love
Several women wore their wedding dresses and spontaneous clapping broke out as Pixie Lott sang

As part of the ceremony, the couples were invited to say these words:

Today, I choose you again, as I did then, as I will always.

I promise to keep building with you, to listen, to laugh, to stand beside you.

To honour the love we have made, to cherish the life we are creating.

Time may leave its marks upon us,

but it cannot wear away the truth:

You are my beloved, my partner, my gift.

And with all that I am,

I promise— again and always—to be yours.

A bulldog sat in a green pushchair
Gemma and Andrew Standen brought Honey, their bulldog, who turned out to be one of the star attractions of the event
A woman takes a photograph on her smartphone of a woman in a white wedding dress
Hundreds of photographs were taken at the event as families and friends celebrated together
A man in a blue suit with red tie takes a selfie with his wife in her white wedding dress
Sammy and Ryan Hayes shared a precious moment on their way into the event outside the cathedral
A woman and man stood in front of a white, floral arch at Coventry Cathedral. The woman is wearing a black outifit with silver embroidery and holding red and white flowers. The man, who has glasses and grey hair, has a brown suit and tie with white shirt
Sarah and Sean Fogarty travelled from north Shropshire to the city where they married in 1990
A woman in a white coat and black dress, with glasses, and a man in a grey suit, white shirt and grey tie with thin blue stripes
Elaine and Eric Hunter married in 2010 after both losing their long-term partners
A man in a green and purple striped blazer and boater and a woman in a fur coat and hat
Tina and Selwyn Van Zimmer A man in a green and purple striped blazer and boater and a woman in a white coat and hat. Both have glasses of champagne in handTina and Selwyn Van Zimmer
Tina and Selwyn Van Zeller married in 1984...
and their fashion sense hasn't changed
A man in a suit and woman in a golden dress and jacket with white fascinator read from purple cards during the event
This was a mass event, but when the couples stood to reaffirm their promises to each other, it was a very personal moment
A stained glass window at the cathedral with two rows of people dressed in wedding outfits in front
The spectacular stained glass window at Coventry Cathedral provided a stunning backdrop for guests
A woman in a white wedding dress and a bunch of flowers with her partner in a brown, check suit and red bow tie
Ellie and Ali Bright had to cancel their original wedding plans due to Covid
James Marklew Four people, three women and a man. The man and woman in the centre of the photo are wearing sunglasses and the woman on the right is holding a white parasolJames Marklew
If ever an image summed up the fun of the day, it was probably Donna and James Marklew in their special glasses

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