SCHOOL bells were replaced with wedding bells as one of Bournemouth’s most prestigious schools hosted its first ever marriage ceremony.

BBC Radio Solent presenter Steve Harris and educational psychologist Angie Barrett became the first couple to tie the knot at Talbot Heath School in Talbot Woods at the weekend.

The independent girls’ school was licensed for weddings earlier this year and now has four areas where couples can say ‘I do’ and then celebrate in style.

Steve, 36, and Angie, 34, decided to get married in the Great Hall, which boasts the longest aisle in Bournemouth, can seat a staggering 361 people and accommodated their 15 foot high Christmas Tree with ease. The couple, who live in Westbourne, said they stumbled upon Talbot Heath after a long search for the perfect wedding venue.

Steve, who presents Radio Solent’s Breakfast in Dorset programme, said: “Because of my job we absolutely wanted to get married in Dorset. We looked at venues in Bridport, Hooke, Corfe Castle but none of them could do what we wanted, which was to do the whole thing – ceremony and reception – in one place with lots of people.

“Then Angie found Talbot Heath mentioned on the Bellissimo weddings website and it seemed perfect.

“I did worry initially that getting married at a school, with Angie working in education, would be a bit of a busman’s holiday. But it’s been absolutely brilliant and totally magical,” he added.

And Angie, who works for Southampton City Council, said: “My work colleagues all think it’s hilarious and a bit bizarre that I’ve chosen to get married in a school but it’s actually a really magical setting for the biggest day of our lives – and there’s not a whiteboard in sight!”

Jen Cameron, the finance and business development director at Talbot Heath, said they had six more weddings in the pipeline.

“It’s more nerve-wracking than I thought, hosting someone’s special day, but we’ve got a really good team on board,” she said.

“We have some of the best 1930s architecture in the country and the whole site is absolutely stunning.

“The fact that we’re so unique has really enabled us to stand apart from the crowd.”