Father of the bride Cris Simpson wasn’t going to let his daughter’s big day stand in the way of him casting his vote for the general and council elections.

The 52-year-old, conservatively dressed in his morning suit and Avril in her wedding dress, rolled up in a vintage white car outside the polling station at Milton Court Academy at 11.55am today.

After marking his ballot paper and popping it in the black box he got back inside the vehicle which then took them to Holy Trinity Church in Green Porch Close, where the former Sittingbourne Community College student was set to marry her fiancé Anthony Tucker, 33, at noon.

Following the service the newlyweds, whose labour of love began three years ago, were expected to make their way to Leeds Castle for the reception.

The dad of three, of Pippin Close, Milton Regis, said: “I wouldn’t say polling day is more important [than my daughter’s wedding day] it’s the other way round but I wasn’t going to let it stop me.”

Video: Jem Collins finds out Cris's daughter will always get his vote

Avril, 24, who lives in Crawley with Anthony, said: “He’d been joking about it for some time but [I] didn’t think he’d actually do it, but that’s dad all over. It’s one of those things that needs to be done.

“I did a postal vote because I knew I would be busy on the day. Anthony did his by post as well, we were organised. I think they [the guests] will do it before they set off for the church.

“I’m worried about being a little bit late for my husband-to-be. He said if I’m later than nine minutes he’s leaving me and walking out the church. Hopefully he’s joking but it’s the bride’s prerogative to be late. As long as I’m not late, late it will be fine.”

Avril and Anthony, who was born in Dartford and grew up in Maidstone, booked the ceremony a year ago.

She added: “We didn’t know it was going to be election day, if we had known we would not have picked it. When we found out we were like ‘ Really? They picked that day’.

“I’ve come round to the fact and it’s been nice because Sky News has been doing a countdown [to the elections] and I saw it as a countdown to my wedding.”

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