A gay couple who claim they had their church wedding turned down 31 times are overjoyed to have finally tied the knot.
Shane Yerrell, 39, and David Sparrey, 30, got hitched in Wanstead, East London, last month. The pair had planned to wait to marry but decided to go ahead following a family health issue.
The couple had always wanted a church wedding but claim they were knocked back a staggering 31 times after calling venues.
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Then, Wanstead United Reformed Church said yes on the 32nd try - and the pair were able to marry in front of family and friends on October 21. Shane said: "Honestly, I'd all but given up. But when I spoke to [Reverend] Tessa I was literally shouting with joy and jumping round the room. David didn't believe me.
"When we met Tessa she said, 'I can see you love each other, love is love'. It was the most amazing feeling.
"She said, 'Everyone deserves to marry the person they love' - and she's right. The day was so special. That church was a light at the end of a tunnel. They are so brave and we will always be so grateful to them.
"It really wasn't easy but it was more than worth it all. We thought it would never happen. It was like [the churches] were all reading a script - 'We'd love to, but no'."
The couple, from Waltham Abbey, Essex, met through a mutual friend in 2014 and were an item by 2016. Electrical engineer David then proposed on a beach on a family holiday in Crete.
Both men are Christians who attend church every six weeks and were set on the traditions of a church wedding. Shane, who is deputy mayor for Waltham Abbey and a councillor for Epping Forest, said he then spent up to 15 hours on the phone trying to find a venue.
The couple say they were rejected 31 times - before Reverend Dr Tessa Henry-Robsinson said yes. David walked down the aisle first with his mum, Dawn Bond, 56. And Shane was given away by mum Maria Markham, 58, and grandmother Iris Markham, 79.
More than 100 guests piled into the church to witness the happy union, and an extra 40 joined the party at Waltham Abbey Town Hall. David said: "It was a day I'll never forget. We were surrounded by so much love on the day. It was the perfect wedding.
"We were over the moon when the church agreed to marry us. Everything felt complete. I had hoped Shane's patience and determination would pay off and it did.
Shane added: "It was so moving, overwhelming - I could hardly believe it. It really was the most special moment.
"We had done it and we hadn't had to settle for something we wanted less. I'm delighted we're part of that church's history, we've made friends for life.
"Gay people just don't think it is possible, but if you are a same-sex couple and you want to get married in a church just don't give up. I think a lot of churches are frightened of a backlash - people saying it isn't what the bible says. But I think they could find a way of interpreting that for themselves and making it possible, after all, love is love no matter whether you're gay or straight."
Reverend Henry-Robinson told MyLondon: "It is a proud moment for us at Wanstead United Reformed Church to be the first to bring this good news to its community."
Same-sex marriage was legalised in the UK in 2013 and the first marriages took place in early 2014. However, according to the Church of England website, the law prevents its ministers of from carrying out same-sex marriages.
It adds that although there are no authorised services for blessing a same-sex civil marriage, your local church can still support you with prayer.
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