THERE were tears but also plenty of smiles and joy as Becky Parker and Kevin Smart tied the knot in an emotional wedding ceremony.

As previously reported in The Gazette, in September Becky, who is 39, was given the heart-breaking news that she has incurable cancer of the liver and spine and may only have months to live.

The couple were devastated by the diagnosis, but devoted Kevin, 47, immediately set about organising their big day in secret.

He was planning to keep the wedding a surprise until the day itself but had to confess to Becky what he was planning as her signature was needed to satisfy the legal requirements for marriage in a church.

The couple, who have been together for five years, have three children together, and it was a double family celebration as Joshua, four, Oscar, three, and Union, who is five months old, were all christened immediately after their parents were married at St James’ Church, Bramley, last Saturday.

The naming of Union, whose middle name is Jack, made headlines worldwide after the story featured in The Gazette in June. The couple chose the name in honour of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

Around 140 of their close friends and family gathered to watch The Reverend John Lenton perform the wedding and christening ceremonies.

Rev Lenton told the wedding and christening guests: “There are dark shadows, and we cannot pretend there are not. They have committed themselves to each other for life but we do not know how long that will be.

“My first meeting with them was the day after they had the diagnosis, and the thing that really sticks in my memory is how they held on to each other and told each other ‘I love you’.”

Becky said the day went above and beyond everything she had hoped for and described it as “perfect”.

She said: “It was really emotional for me, especially when I was making my vows, but it was an amazing day.”

Kevin, who is a baker, said he was grateful to all the people who helped the couple to make their big day special.

He said: “Everything was just brilliant – there was not one hitch.

“Everyone really pulled together to make the day what it was.

“Becky was quite emotional but I was more excited. I wasn’t even nervous. It was a day we will never forget.”

Becky first became ill during her pregnancy with Union, suffering from extremely bad pains in her back – pains which continued after the birth.

Blood tests showed she had unusually high levels of enzymes in her liver, but this was first put down to her pregnancy. It wasn't until September that further tests revealed she had terminal cancer.

The couple, from Beckett Gardens, Bramley, will now begin saving in the hope of going on their honeymoon at a later date.