A cat-loving couple enjoyed their purr-fect wedding day – as they celebrated saying I do surrounded by their favourite animals.

Cara and Mark Cowell-Young toasted their nuptials at the Cosy Cat Café in Herne Bay High Street, following an intimate ceremony at Fordwich Town Hall.

At the reception, which was attended by 20 loved ones, the wedding party was joined by 14 moggies who have each been rescued by the eatery.

“We didn’t want anything extravagant; we wanted something different, quirky and something that would be enjoyable for our guests,” Cara, 29, said.

“We were sat in the café one day and I just said to Mark ‘what if we had our reception here?’ and he said that was a really good idea. We didn’t really look at any other venues.

“We didn’t want a party or a band, we just wanted a sit-down meal, and here the money is doing something good and looking after the animals.

“Getting cat hair on our clothes doesn’t bother us - if we were worried, we wouldn’t have picked it.”

The newlyweds, who first met while working at Gravesend’s now-defunct Debenhams store eight years ago, decided to host the celebration at the quirky café during a visit in the summer.

It was the venue’s inaugural marriage reception, with staff wining and dining guests until 7pm.

The loved-up pair, who live close to the centre of town, say the get-together on December 23 was the ideal way to end their day.

“The wedding was absolutely fantastic; it was everything that we wanted. It was a very small, intimate wedding,” 36-year-old Mark added.

“And the choice of the café encompasses our personality – we love cats, we love animals, and having family and friends to enjoy our day. This is everything that we want.

“Seeing the cats was very comforting and heartwarming – it’s great being around them.”

The café had only opened at its new premises in the High Street, which used to be home to Hays Travel, a week beforehand, having moved from a site in William Street.

And owner Christeen Norfolk says she is open to hosting more receptions.

“This is the first wedding reception I’ve had since we started in 2018,” she said.

“I thought it was a great idea when they approached me about it – I’ve never heard of a cat café wedding. Karen and Mark said they wanted the cats to be a part of the wedding.

“I’d never say never to doing another one.”