PIERLY beloved! Friends and family gathered to watch a couple tied the knot on Southend Pier in the first ceremony of its kind.

Newlyweds Joe and Kelly Thomas exchanged their vows and wedding rings on Saturday at edge of the landmark.

Thurrock Gazette:

Big day! - Property developer Joe, 28, and Kelly, 31, who manages the Corner Club, in Leigh, selected the pier to make sure their big day lives long on the memory of their guests

Thurrock Gazette:

Property developer Joe, 28, and Kelly, 31, who manages the Corner Club, in Leigh, selected the pier to make sure their big day lives long on the memory of their guests.

Joe, also from Leigh, said: “We decided on the pier as both loving our home town, we know what a statement the pier has on the area, discussed how much fun the train would be for our guests and that we could visit for an ice cream on our anniversary’s when old and silly.”

Whilst the couple had been legally married earlier in the morning, they saved the blessing ceremony for the pier so that Joe’s aunt Jane, a church warden who lives in Bristol, could bless them.

He added: “With the fact that we would already be married when we got down to the pier for 2pm, we asked if we could hold our blessing with auntie Jane out on the sun deck, which boasted the most amazing views.

“Jane carrying this role was a secret to the rest of the wedding party and my parents.”

The couple, of Station Road, Leigh, held their reception at the Seven Hotel.

The groom added: “We decided to hold our reception at Seven Hotel after we had attended the 100th armistice day at the the cenotaph on Clifftown Parade.

“We had enjoyed dinner there and knew it was what we wanted for our day.

“We wanted to make our wedding local and alongside that support local people.

“We cannot thank the all staff, especially Stefan Belot at the Seven Hotel, enough, and all the amazing staff at the RNLI and Southend Pier.

“Extended thanks to Bunched Flowers of Rectory Grove, James Meaney and Maisie Parfett for our photography and videography, Billy Bond cutter of hair and Natalie Guy for hair and make up. And most importantly, to all of our incredible guests.”