By Sam Inkersole

A STRING of errors ruined the wedding day of a Dover couple who had forked out £4,500 for the occasion.

Peter and Michelle Rogers, from Malmains Road, say calamitous mistakes by Kent Registration Service and A Kentish Wedding, both run by Kent County Council, left them with a day to remember for all the wrong reasons.

Sales director Peter and customer assistant Michelle were due to get hitched at the Dover Discovery Centre at 2.45pm on January 7.

But, just after 2.30pm, things started to go wrong when the registrar did not turn up.

Peter, 41, said: "We went to the pub at about 2.30pm and then made our way to the Discovery Centre.

"When we got there, we were given no information or help.

"I made my way to the auditorium where the ceremony would be and was told by a worker at the centre to 'get out because we are not ready'. There was no other explanation.

"We left it another 15 minutes. Then I was told Michelle was on her way and we should go back.

"I sat there for around 30 minutes waiting for some news or information, but got nothing. Then my cousin told me the registrar had not turned up and they couldn't get hold of another one using an emergency number."

Dad-of-one Peter returned to the pub while wife-to-be Michelle was left in a meeting room as staff tried to arrange for a different registrar to come.

Peter said: "Eventually, we were told another registrar would be there in about half an hour and they would need 15 minutes to set up."

But the problems did not end when the new registrar was finally ready to proceed with the couple's ceremony.

Peter said: "The registrar showed me a pack with our wedding songs CD and vows. Both of them were wrong. I just asked them to get on with it. After short apologies, they said the CD didn't work anyway and then they got Michelle's name wrong."

Thankfully, Michelle and Peter did finally manage to tie the knot but there was one more problem to be revealed.

Peter said: "The photographer told us it was too late for photos as it was too dark and he had another engagement. But he still required paying for his time."

Michelle, 36, added: "It was just awful not knowing what was going on. But we are officially married now so we will go about our lives happily from now on.

"I won't forget the day though, that's for sure."

A county council spokesman said: "Due to a communication breakdown our staff did not arrive in time to marry Mr and Mrs Rogers at the agreed time.

"We are very sorry for the distress we caused and we have written to Mr and Mrs Rogers to convey our sincere apologies."