Summary

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Moment 80 couples renew vows on Valentine's Day

  1. Cellist Jay Émme performs for emotional couplespublished at 11:28 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Time for our first piece of music which is being performed by renowned Warwick cellist Jay Emme.

    She is playing the first movement of Bach's Cello Suite 1 in G major.

  2. Reverend reads famous wedding passagepublished at 11:26 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    The Reverend Canon Nitano Muller has read that famous passage from 1 Corinthians, heard on so many wedding days over the decades:

    "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."

  3. Celebration of love gets under waypublished at 11:21 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Couples sat next to each otehr in a row in the cathedral

    BBC CWR's breakfast show host Phil Upton has got us under way here at Coventry Cathedral.

    We will hear shortly from Reverend Nitano Muller, who is the cathedral's Canon for Worship and Welcome.

  4. We Still Do sees couples' love shared far and widepublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Rosie Eaton who has been chatting to other radio stations about the celebration

    The BBC has been sharing the love across the country as radio stations across England chat about our celebration in Coventry.

    Reporter Rosie Eaton said many local couples have made the journey to the West Midlands to say We Still Do.

    You can watch the service which is underway at the top of this page.

  5. Event 'highlight of my career' says Reverendpublished at 11:13 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Reverend Nitano Muller dressed in purple and red shawl, wearing glassesImage source, Coventry Cathedral

    Reverend Nitano Muller, who is the cathedral's Canon for Worship and Welcome, said his role in today's event will be the highlight of his career.

    He will lead a prayer and a reading during the celebration later this morning.

    He added: "I've never done anything like this, it's the highlight of my career.

    "It's such an honour."

  6. Watch: Meet some of the couples taking partpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    We have 77 couples taking part today, all set to reaffirm their love when our event begins with our colleagues from BBC CWR leading it from 11:15 GMT at the cathedral.

    Ahead of the big day, BBC Breakfast's Jayne McCubbin met some of those taking part:

    Media caption,

    Meet some of the couples taking part today in Coventry

  7. Surprise guest Pixie Lott arrives to sing at eventpublished at 11:00 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Pixie Lott seen in a publicity image, wearing a denim shirt and photographed outside in a gardenImage source, Nicole Nodland

    Singer Pixie Lott has arrived at the cathedral in a surprise addition to the event.

    In a special performance on the chancel steps in front of the altar, during today's celebration, she will perform her new single Show You Love and a cover version of Coldplay's All My Love.

    The singer married her husband Oliver Cheshire at Ely Cathedral in 2022 - and made a "surprise visit" there too the following year, to mark their first wedding anniversary.

    Oliver Cheshire and Pixie Lott are photographed at the Venice International Film Festival in 2022Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Pixie Lott and Oliver Cheshire, seen here in Venice in 2022, married that year at Ely Cathedral, and returned in a "surprise visit" a year later

  8. Get in touch with your Valentine's Day messagespublished at 10:48 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    While this page is focusing on our dozens of couples at Coventry Cathedral, it is also a day to celebrate love on Valentine's Day.

    If you want to share a message for or about your loved one, you can email us here and you might see it appear on the page later.

  9. Watch: Celebration stream goes livepublished at 10:42 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    A woman in a white dress out of focus while a friend takes a picture on her phone

    As our couples start to take their seats ahead of the celebration event, our stream of the proceedings has just gone live.

    If you want to watch any of your friends or family - or just need a healthy dose of romance this Valentine's Day - you can watch it at the top of this page!

  10. Loved-up couples arrive ahead of big daypublished at 10:33 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    A man wearing glasses in a dark suit and a red tie next to a woman in a white wedding dress in front of the steps at Coventry Cathedral

    Our couples are beginning to arrive at Coventry Cathedral ahead of the We Still Do celebration.

    There are already some stunning dresses and shiny shoes being walked along the aisle.

    Coventry does scrub up well, does it not?

    A man and a woman with their backs to the camera with their arms around each other in front of a bright window
    A woman in a red coat and a floral dress next to a woman in a Shrek-themed jumper, walking up some steps
    A woman in a red dress stood next to a woman in a white wedding dress stood in front of the large tapestry in Coventry Cathedral
  11. Royal couple release romantic snap on Valentine's Daypublished at 10:24 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    A picture of the Prince and Princess of Wales released on Valentine's DayImage source, Kensington Palace

    As we celebrate Valentine's Day in Coventry with so many happy couples, the Prince and Princess of Wales have also shared a romantic snap of themselves on social media.

    The photograph shows a woodland scene from the video released last year, when the princess talked personally about having completed her chemotherapy.

    In our own We Still Do event, we have heard moving accounts from many couples who have also had their own cancer diagnosis and then faced treatment and life beyond the condition.

    This picture of the royal couple was posted on X, external and Instagram, external for Valentine's Day with no message - just a heart emoji.

  12. Watch: A We Still Do surprisepublished at 10:15 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    We told you earlier how one half of one of our couples did not know she was going to be taking part today - until her other half surprised her.

    Here is the moment when Lee made his appearance with wife Katie and, well, grab a hanky:

    Media caption,

    Katie Holmes gets a We Still Do surprise from hubby Lee

  13. More on our A-list pooch Honey the bulldogpublished at 10:07 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Honey with the press
    Image caption,

    Honey looks as though she is used to dealing with the press

    We're getting so much love for Honey - Gemma and Andrew's unlikely bridesmaid - here are some more pictures of her.

    She was brought to the cathedral today in style - in a stroller.

    While she's got a reporter, a photographer and a radio broadcaster in front of her - and our man behind the lens taking this image - she looks distinctly unimpressed.

    Is it big enough to count as a media scrum? We're not sure just yet...

    Honey with flowers
    Image caption,

    She's straight out of the pages of a fashion magazine

    We would go as far as to say she is even stealing the show - look at everyone looking at her!

    Shout out if you love her too - #Love4Honey

  14. Nearly time for the crowds to arrivepublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    BBC staff and guests at the cathedral with a cameraman

    Are we nearly ready yet? It must be time for the crowds to arrive.

    With most of our couples bringing guests, there will be about 500 people in the cathedral today.

    • Seating - check
    • Presenters - check
    • Flowers - check

    The plan is to have everyone at the cathedral on time by 10:00 GMT.

    Seating set out ready for the event
    Vases of flowers on a table
  15. Husband to surprise wife in 'nice lunch out' ploypublished at 09:45 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Here's a surprise we have been waiting to announce to you all morning - one of those taking part today, Katie Holmes, got dressed up this morning thinking her hubby Lee had booked a table for a nice lunch out.

    Not so!

    She has just arrived at the cathedral and now the pair, who live in Coventry, are among the couples pledging their love anew.

    Katie and Lee Holmes on their wedding dayImage source, Katie and Lee Holmes

    Lee said the surprise had been a "nightmare" to organise.

    He had to come up with a reason for her to look smart, be in the right place at the right time and, to complicate matters, Katie's friends at work started to talk about the event.

    "I wear shorts and T-shirts all year round," Lee said. "I don't dress smart. So if I said 'let's pop into town' for instance and I'm wearing a shirt and a tie and trousers and looking smart, she'd be like 'this isn't right'.

    "She can read me like a book."

    He said he always felt he had not given Katie the wedding she deserved and this would make up for it.

    He said without her love, support and guidance during 14 years of marriage, he would not be the man he is today.

  16. Get them to the cathedral on timepublished at 09:37 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Richard Williams
    BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

    Our couples are getting to the cathedral now, ahead of the celebration event starting from about 11:15 GMT.

    Here's Phil and Yvonne, setting off:

    Media caption,

    Phil and Yvonne setting off for We Still Do

  17. Honey the bulldog arrives dressed as a bridesmaidpublished at 09:25 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Gemma and Andrew Standen with Honey and other guests

    A bridesmaid with a difference has arrived at the cathedral with Gemma and Andrew Standen.

    Honey, who is wearing white for the occasion, is the couple’s pampered bulldog!

    Andrew said Honey was 11 in March, so it was good to be able to get her to the celebration to join in.

    The pet pooch was wearing a corsage to match Andrew’s with a candy pink rose and foliage, and Gemma was carrying a small posy bouquet made up of the same blooms.

    The couple have shared their moving story about their IVF journey with BBC CWR – and their lives with Honey their “gorgeous girl” who is “an absolute character”.

    They described how they have decided to put their fertility treatment behind them and focus on their lives together.

    • You can hear more about their experience here.
  18. 'The most romantic postie in the world'published at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    Jayne McCubbin
    Reporter, BBC Breakfast

    Tracey Draper, holding paper saying 'Will you marry me... again?' next to Kevin, dressing in a red Royal Mail jacket and black trousers on a driveway in front of a red brick house

    I was joined this morning on BBC Breakfast by someone described as "the most romantic postie in the world".

    Tracey Draper admits that she is not always the most romantic person but her husband, Kevin more than makes up for it.

    But after he had written writing countless love letters throughout their relationship, Tracey thought she would surprise Kevin for once, signing up to We Still Do in secret.

    She then revealed the news in full Love Actually style while he was on a round as a postie, big posters and all!

  19. Hear couples' love stories in their own wordspublished at 09:01 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    We've already heard lots of stories about a whole lot of joy in people's lives as they found each other and set off on new journeys.

    You can hear direct from some of them now - and don't forget you can watch the day unfold by pressing Watch Live at the top of the page as the celebration happens:

    Media caption,

    Listen on BBC Sounds to how Michelle and Adam first met and more

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    Karin and Richard Burke on why they are taking part after a "disaster" wedding

    Media caption,

    Andrew and Gemma wanted to have a baby but it was not straightforward for them.

    Media caption,

    Tracey surprised her husband Kevin in a Love Actually-inspired stunt to repropose.

  20. Final preparations taking placepublished at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February

    A behind-the-scene look at Coventry Cathedral with a reporter doing a piece to camera and sound equipment in the foreground

    The buzz at Coventry Cathedral is beginning to build as final preparations continue ahead of the event, which will start at about 11:15 GMT.

    Behind the scenes, the last sound checks will take place over the next couple of hours before our couples begin to arrive.

    A reminder that the celebration will be live-streamed on the BBC iPlayer from 10:30 GMT.