Port St Mary Commissioners are delighted to have been able to host a very special wedding as the first one held in the recently refurbished Town Hall. Chairman of the Board, Bernadette McCabe J.P. married Johnny Williams M.B.E., also of Port St Mary, in the Commissioners' Boardroom on Thursday, 28th January.

Registrars from Douglas officiated over the ceremony, and were joined by some thirty five well-wishers. The reception was held at the Port St Mary Golf Pavilion.

Following the ceremony, the newly-wed Mrs Williams said, “It has been a joy to be the first wedding hosted here; it was very important not only for us – being Phurt le Moirrey born and bred – but also for our families, some of whom had had to travel far to be with us. The Clerk even gave up his lunch hour to pipe us in and out of the ceremony! I am sure Johnny and I are just the first of what will be many happy couples to pass through these doors.

Wearing my Chairman's hat, I should add that the Board have been determined in ensuring that our Town Hall is a well-used community facility, and the ability to conduct weddings here is a very important additional string to our bow.”

Clerk to the Commissioners, Alastair Hamilton said, “We are delighted to be able to use our newly-refurbished boardroom as a prestigious wedding venue; having researched the market, we found there to be a shortage of venues in the south of the Island for couples wanting to marry. The combination of our historic boardroom, which makes an ideal location for the ceremony, along with either our "West Room" for smaller receptions or the larger Town Hall itself, which can host parties of up to 200 people, means that the entire day can be hosted in this most beautiful and atmospheric of settings. We are planning to forge strong links with local businesses so that weddings of all sizes and budgets can be accommodated here.”

For enquiries, please contact Alastair Hamilton on (a.hamilton@portstmary.gov.im).