Romance fills the air as 80 couples celebrate love

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  1. The central area of Coventry Cathedral with people sat in long rows facing each other and two presenters stood in the middle

    The layout of Coventry Cathedral was transformed for the event

John Bray
BBC News, Coventry Cathedral

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.

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  1. 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

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

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  1. A man in a green and purple striped blazer and boater and a woman in a fur coat and hat

    Tina and Selwyn Van Zeller married in 1984...

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

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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