Ten couples tie the knot in ten hours as historic Stourbridge venue celebrates milestone

Ten couples are tying the knot today as a historic Stourbridge venue celebrates its tenth anniversary with a unique "Wedding Wednesday" event.

The Thomas Robinson Building in Lye is hosting 10 weddings in 10 hours to mark a decade since it opened as a licensed wedding and civil ceremony venue.

Among those getting married is Gemma, who will wed her partner Matt after 16 years together.

The couple had originally planned to marry in 2014 but postponed their wedding after discovering they were expecting their son, George.

"We found out the Christmas before that I was pregnant with George, so we put it back 12 months," she said.

"After we had George, we decided to go on a family holiday instead. Then it's been on the back burner ever since. All our time and concentration has been bringing up George really and working."

The couple had planned to marry next year, but changed their plans after seeing details of the special anniversary event online.

"When I saw it on Facebook, our original plan was to get married in 2027," Gemma said.

"Jokingly I said, 'Shall we go for this? It's only £100.' So we did and we managed to get a time slot for the Wednesday."

The Thomas Robinson Building, a Grade II-listed Victorian Gothic landmark, originally opened in 1879 as the Lye and Wollescote Cemetery Chapels.

Following decades of decline and a fire in 1993, the building underwent a £1.2m restoration project supported by Dudley Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and other partners.

The restoration was completed in 2016, transforming the former chapels into a registration office and ceremony venue while preserving many of its historic features.

Today, the venue hosts weddings, civil partnerships, naming ceremonies, citizenship ceremonies and vow renewals.

For her big day, Gemma has chosen a distinctive vintage theme.

"I've gone 1940s style dress," she said.

"My hair will be very 1940s too."

What began as a simple ceremony has grown into something more elaborate.

"We was going to keep it simple to begin with, sort our own transport out," she said.

"But we've gone and got a classic Burford car to take me."

The celebrations will continue at the Manor House in Whittington, with the couple's 11-year-old son playing a starring role.

"Our son has also done a little speech as well because he is going to be best man at the wedding too," she said.

As the ceremony approaches, Gemma admitted she is feeling both excited and nervous.

"Everything's coming together now, but also it's like my brain's working overtime making sure everything's in place as it should be," she said.

"I'm nervous as well because I just want everything to be perfect."

The anniversary event is offering couples the chance to marry at the venue for a reduced fee of £100, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Demand proved extremely popular, reflecting the affection local people have for the building, which has welcomed thousands of people through its doors over the past decade for some of life's most significant milestones.

As for the weather, Gemma has one final wish for her wedding day.

"I just hope the sun's shining for us," she said. First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.