BRIDE Silpa Pankhania and her groom Sandip Gohil were not only rightly centre of attention on their big day — they also took centre stage.

The beautiful bride and her handsome groom were literally the leading man and lady as they celebrated their wedding in the Albert Hall theatre, with the two taking to the theatre stage for Sunday's ceremony.

It is the second wedding to be held at the Albert Halls and the first in the auditorium since its multi-million pound refurbishment.

Silpa aged 34, said: “The wedding has been amazing, and to go on stage is something different and unique.

“I was born in Bolton and brought up in Bolton and to get married in the middle of Bolton was what I wanted and I thought this venue is beautiful.”

Silpa, who will be moving to Birmingham to live with her husband, said: “Getting married here makes it even more special because I will be leaving Bolton.”

Sandip, aged 33, said taking to the stage made him feel very much the leading man following in the footsteps of many Prince Charmings that have trod the theatre boards over the years.

He said: “It looks amazing, the hospitality has been great and it has just been amazing day.”

Fortunately for his bride, he has no ambitions to give up his day job and become an actor.

Silpa, who works at the Royal Bolton Hospital as a medical laboratory assistant, and her Sandip enjoyed their big day with close to 400 guests, who watched as they married in a traditional Hindu ceremony.

Her father, Shantilal,who lives in Over Hulton, said he had been looking at different venues for his youngest child’s wedding and said the new look Albert Halls was the perfect location for her perfect day.

He said: “I wanted to do something special for her wedding and to have it in the theatre is different and special.2

A spokesman for the Albert Halls said: “The Albert Halls are delighted to host their first Indian wedding following the two year closure and refurbishment of the Complex. The wedding was a lavish event with the ceremony taking place on the theatre stage with guests enjoying a visual spectacular.”

Guests enjoyed a culinary feast in the Festival Hall with the adjoining Lancaster Suite.