Wedding is an extra big day

The wedding guest list poses a nightmare for many a bride and groom – but Tim Barton and Liz Tether solved the dilemma by inviting the whole of a Black Country town to mark their big day.

Probation Service officer, Liz, aged 20, and youth worker Tim, 23, tied the knot at the Amblecote Christian Centre (ACC) in Brettell Lane, Brierley Hill, on Saturday.

The happy couple issued an open invitation for people to join them after the ceremony at a community fun day which they paid for with help from their parents.

They organised a small reception for relatives and friends at Wharton Park Golf Club, in Bewdley, but donated the rest of the money to the Brierley Hill Project's fun day.

Tim, from Dunlin Close, Kingswinford, who has been a youth worker in Amblecote for nine months, said: "We wanted to do something that reflects who we are and do something for the whole of the community."

It was a double celebration for Liz, of Whittington Road, Stourbridge, as she turned 20 on the day.

She said: "We had a lovely day and the ceremony was really nice. It was a bit nerve-wracking but once it was over I wanted to do it all over again," she added.

The couple, who are committed Christians, are volunteers with The Brierley Hill Project , a Lottery-funded scheme supported by their church and South Street Baptist Church.

More than 150 attended the fun day which included sandpits, balloon-making, a barbecue, bouncy castle and steel band. Project manager John Cook offered his congratulations to the pair and said he was "very grateful" for the money the couple had given to the project.

Tim and Liz – nee Tether – first became friends when they both performed in a musical at their Amblecote church four-and-a-half years ago. Tim, a guitarist, was involved in the music while Liz took the role of an urchin in Fagin, an adaptation of Oliver Twist.