HOLLY Willoughby fought back tears as the This Morning team helped a cancer
survivor tie the knot in the show’s first live wedding.
Annie Cain and Gareth Lewis exchanged vows on a ship moored on the river
opposite the ITV studio in London.
The bride, 40, who has been battling breast cancer, walked down the aisle in a
dress designed by Gok Wan.
The groom arrived by boat, zooming down the Thames in scenes reminiscent of a
James Bond movie.
He was greeted by Rylan Clark, who joined the couple’s guests to host a
segment on the wedding ship.
Speaking shortly before his bride arrived, Gareth described the live wedding
as “mind-blowing…” adding: “It’s just incredible.”
Annie’s dress was specially designed by This Morning’s resident fashion expert
Gok.
The style guru helped Annie get ready, and even escorted her to the ceremony
along with her bridesmaids.
The show’s resident chef Phil Vickery was put in charge of the wedding
breakfast and rustled up food for 60 guests.
The tasty menu included a shepherd’s pie as a main course.
Holly and Phil watched the wedding via a live link from the studio, but they
then left the building and headed across the river to join the fun.
They arrived on the ship and introduced the bride and groom to the room.
The couple, who are from Essex, were chosen for the live wedding following a
nationwide search.
The bride has an extra special connection to show as she credits This Morning
with saving her life.
Holly revealed Annie was diagnosed with “stage three aggressive breast
cancer” last year and thought she would not live to see 2016.
Gareth proposed with a Haribo ring and they had planned to marry last year,
but their plans were put on hold due to Annie’s health crisis.
However, Annie battled through and she credits This Morning with keeping her
alive.
She has admitted a segment on the show inspired her to get a lump in her
breast checked by a doctor.
The wedding date comes exactly one year after Annie began her battle with
cancer with an operation.
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The wedding caused a flurry of excitement on social media as an invitation to
viewers was posted on the This Morning Twitter page.
The team also shared a picture of the couple’s rings.
The This Morning team has treated the newly-weds to a special honeymoon in
France, and Annie and Gareth thanked them by handing a chalkboard plaque to
the hosts.
The ceremony ended with the couple’s first dance as Holly and Phil introduced
a surprise guest to serenade them.
Peter Andre then walked out to sing the couple’s favourite song, Fly Me To The
Moon.