IT was a day of happy tears and hugs as family and friends of a Sankey Bridges couple celebrated Warrington’s first same sex marriage.

Steph Llewellyn and Rosie Peplow tied the knot on Friday following a beautiful ceremony at the Lymm Hotel that left many reaching for their tissues.

The happy couple said it had been a wonderful day and they were delighted to be the first in the town to legally wed following a change in the law.

Rosie, who got married on her 30th birthday, said: “It’s been a surreal day and I still don’t think it’s really all sunk in yet.

“We’re very lucky all our favourite people in the world are here with us.”

The pair did not need to fear about walking down the aisle in the same outfit as care assistant Steph revealed she had never worn a dress in her life and opted for a suit instead for the big day.

The 29-year-old admitted she shed a tear during the ceremony but they were ‘very happy tears’ and she could not wait to jet off for their honeymoon in Gran Canaria.

She added: “I just couldn’t help crying but Rosie managed to hold it together.

“She’s done most of the planning and there’s been ups and downs but it’s been brilliant.

“I didn’t mind where we went on holiday as long as we were together.”

The couple added they had been recognised in supermarkets after appearing in the Warrington Guardian earlier this year announcing their nuptials.

Rosie, who works as a nurse in the town, said one of her patients told her ‘I didn’t realise you were one of them’ after seeing the pair in the paper but they added everyone was very happy for them.

See the video of the happy couple on their big day at warringtonguardian.co.uk.