Aisle sea you at the beach on time; BIG DAY: Couple enjoy dream Brum wedding and still get sand in their shoes.

Byline: Kat Keogh

EVERY year, thousands of couples forgo a traditional wedding by jetting off to an exotic destination for their big day. But Claire and Chris Smith got the best of both worlds when they said "I do" on a sandy beach in the middle of Birmingham.

The sun shone as the couple tied the knot in front of friends, family and hundreds of shoppers at the Monarch Beach in Chamberlain Square after taking first prize in a BRMB wedding competition. Actually 150 couples applied to take part in the station's One Beach and a Wedding competition, which saw Claire and Chris battle it out with another couple in a series of challenges to win their dream wedding.

The lavish ceremony came complete with music, flowers, rings, wedding planner, and the all-important wedding dress.

Guests wearing flip-flops with their wedding finery perched on deckchairs to watch Claire, from Walsall, walk down the aisle on the arm of her 16-year-old son Chad.

Claire, 32, wore a strapless gown to exchange rings with 39-year-old Chris in front of 80 guests including Claire's daughter Lauren and son Luke, and Chris' sons James, Adam and Kyle and daughter Sophia.

"Its been fantastic," said teaching assistant Claire.

"The team settled my nerves beforehand and its been unreal to get married with the sand beneath my feet."

Company director Chris, from Bournville, said it was "love at first sight" when he met his bride-to-be seven months ago.

"I fell in love with her when we met," he said.

"She's got a great personality and I love everything about her. The day has been absolutely fantastic, everything has gone so smoothly and all the help we have had has made it just magical."

Organisers said they were inundated with couples who were desperate to get married, but didn't have the budget to pay for their own dream day.

Companies provided their services free of charge to ensure the day went without a hitch, and Jo Leigh from beach sponsors Monarch said Claire and Chris were worthy winners.

She said: "They've worked well with everybody and really entered into the spirit of the beach wedding, "The only thing we couldn't organise was the weather."

The happy couple will now be swapping one beach for another when they jet off on a honeymoon to Cyprus next month.

CAPTION(S):

Beach vows: Chris Smith and Claire McMahon say I Do. Congratulations: Family Chris and Claire's special day. Cheers!: Chris Smith McMahon raise a glass.