IT was a double celebration this weekend when a Black Country pair tied the knot at the newly refurbished Thomas Robinson building.

As well as celebrating their nuptials, the marriage of Natalie and Chris Williams ‘christened’ the venue, as it marked the first wedding to take place at the renovated Grade II former Lye and Wollescote Chapels.

The lucky couple were the winners of a wedding package competition organised by Dudley Council to celebrate the opening of the building, which had undergone £1.2 million of improvements.

As part of their wedding prize, the couple benefited from a range of goodies donated by local businesses, including the service itself – performed by Dudley’s registrars – 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.”

Built in 1879, the building is made up of two Victorian Gothic-style chapels, which house the registration office in one, and a new wedding venue the other.

It underwent substantial work – carried out by the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust after funding from Heritage Lottery Fund and Dudley Council – over the past 13 years, to turn it into a new registration office for civil ceremonies.

The new Wollescote Suite, which features much of the former chapel’s original architecture, can hold marriage parties in the region of 60 people.

For more information, or to book a wedding or renewal of vows, call 01384 815373.