IT was a dream come true for James Dovey on Saturday when he married his Polish bride Joanna Partyka in the first marriage ceremony to be held at Tenbury's refurbished Pump Rooms.

And it proved a real family affair with his mother Gail Dovey conducting the service in her capacity as the superintendent registrar for the district.

The wedding is also the first in the new Tenbury Wells Marriage Register.

Originally planned for August, the big day was brought forward at short notice because James, a software engineer, is relocating to Canada with his company on June 3 and wanted his mother to marry them in the Pump Rooms before they fly off.

Not even the threat of SARS could stop this wedding.

Toronto's outbreak of the disease, currently confined to the Chinese quarter, is still restricting entry to the city but the couple are determined to go ahead with their travel plans. The pressure to meet the deadline was on, local officials rallied round to help, and in the nick of time the register office was officially transferred to its new venue on the day before the wedding.

Delighted to have officiated at the ceremony, Gail Dovey said: "I was not expecting to conduct my son's wedding, and I had to confirm with the Registrar General that it was in order for me to do so.

"After all the organising, it has been a very great pleasure for me but by the time it got to the marriage stage I had become the registrar.

"Once that was over, I handed James and Joanna their certificate and I became mum again and that's when the emotions really set in," she added.

James met Joanna, who is also known as Ashi (her Polish nickname) through a former work colleague, who is also Polish.

She was completing her degree in international law at Lublin University in Poland. It turned out to be the perfect match.

Not surprising for a software engineer, the courtship began on-line and the electronic love affair blossomed and the couple finally met up.

James' father, retiring Malvern Hills district councillor Chris Dovey, said: "James is very shy lad, Ashi is a lovely young woman and had Gail and I been able to chose a partner for him and a daughter-in-law for us, we could not improve on his choice.

"We very grateful to everyone who helped make it happen, especially The Royal Oak for arranging the reception at short notice and making it a memorable day," he added.

With no time for a honeymoon, the happy couple are preparing for a new life together in Toronto.

Happy parents,Chris and Gail Dovey, are looking forward to meeting Joanna's family at the traditional Polish wedding which is scheduled to be held some time in September.