Hastings Pier hosts first ever wedding

Holly and John Jones on the pirate ship after getting married. Photo by Simon Booth Photography SUS-170222-145024001

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A Hastings couple became the first people to get married on the pier on Saturday (February 18).

John and Holly Jones, of Chowns Hill, chose to have their wedding on the refurbished pier as the groom’s parents met in the ballroom there decades ago.

The service in the Memories Room in The Deck was attended by all their friends and family on the warmest day of the year so far.

John, who works for charity Autism Sussex as does Holly, said it was a fantastic day and knew as soon as he saw the room it would be ‘perfect’ for a wedding.

Holly throws the bouquet on the pier. Photo by Simon Booth Photography SUS-170222-145102001

“I was doing the Christmas market on the pier with work on December 15, which was the first time I’d been on the pier,” he said.

“I was wondering around and went into the Memories Room and thought it was a lovely place to get married and two months later I did.”

John proposed to Holly over Christmas, after being together for two years, saying: “Some people stay engaged for ages but we wanted to get married so we did.”

One quirk of getting married on the pier was how public it was as people were enjoying the sunshine, but John said everyone was nice to them. The couple, who were both born in Hastings, also thanked the pier staff for making the day so special.

First wedding on Hastings Pier. Holly and John became Mr and Mrs Jones. Photo by Sid Saunders. SUS-170220-085636001

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Holly and John Jones with Holly's daughter Ilya who was the flower girl. Photo by Simon Booth Photography SUS-170222-145154001

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