With Valentine's Day falling on a Saturday this year registrars across the country are in for a busy day today.

Eighty three couples are planning to tie the knot today in civil ceremonies around Kent.

This is a huge difference from the equivalent Saturday last year (February 16) where only 27 happy couples were wed in Kent.

Funnily enough, yesterday was not quite so popular.

Apparently Friday the 13th is not a favourite day for nuptials, with only three Kent couples defying superstition.

One of the couples getting hitched today is Michael Sunnucks, 36, and Trudy Hazell, 39, of Upper Fant Road, Maidstone.

The pair are getting married at 1.30pm at the Archbishop's Palace, followed by a reception at the Grangem Moor Hotel in Tonbridge Road.

Trudy, who works at St Michael's Primary School, said: "Originally I wanted it on my birthday which is today, but when I realised it was Friday the 13th, I thought we'd go for the next day. Now the wedding has a Valentine's Day theme."

For information on wedding venues in Kent go to www.akentishceremony.com