It was a double celebration when newlyweds Natalie and Chris Williams tied the knot at the newly refurbished Thomas Robinson buildings at the weekend.

As well as celebrating their nuptials, Saturday 2nd April also saw the venue effectively ‘christened’ as this was the first wedding at the renovated building.

The lucky couple were the winners of a wedding package competition organised by Dudley Council to celebrate the opening of the Grade II former Lye and Wollescote Chapels, which have undergone a £1.2 million renovation.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses, the couple benefited from a range of prizes including the service itself, performed for free by Dudley’s registrars plus other goodies including a wedding breakfast, makeover, wedding gown and tiara, bouquet. groom’s outfit, car hire,  candy cart and DJ, wedding cake and photography.

Penny Fulford, superintendent registrar, said: “Mr and Mrs Williams wedding went beautifully and it was so lovely to think that a wedding competition was instrumental in making their big day so memorable.

“Now we’ve officially renamed it The Thomas Robinson Building, we look forward to welcoming many more couples through the doors of this stunning 19th century building.”

The building has undergone substantial work to turn it into a new registration office for civil ceremonies. Built in 1879, the Building is made up of two Victorian Gothic-style chapels, which house the registration office in one, and a stylish new wedding venue the other.

The refurbishment was carried out by the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, which owns the buildings and which secured money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from Dudley Council.