Sandra Carey looks for all the world to be the happiest of brides after tying the knot with her loving partner Tom.

But for the happy couple the day had a particular poignancy because, just a few weeks ago, mum-of-two Sandra was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

The couple pushed forward their wedding plans as soon as they were told Sandra's intensive treatment - which started last summer - had not stopped the 41-year-old's breast cancer from spreading.

But Sandra looked radiant and happy as she arrived in a Ferrari for her big day, wearing a stunning white strappy gown with pearls sewn into the skirt. And she was left speechless when her sister Dawn, who had secretly travelled over from New Zealand, greeted her in a bridesmaid's dress.

All 58 relatives and friends wore an item of pink in reference to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the couple were whisked away to their reception at the Royal George, in Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham, in a pink stretched limousine drinking pink champagne.

A mixture of tears and laughter marked the ceremony at Worthing Register Office on Saturday, where Sandra's two sons Jacob, ten, and Lewis, seven, presented the rings on pink heart-shaped cushions.

Sandra's best friends Lesley Roberts and Neil Campbell were the witnesses while sisters Ann Muzeen, 45, Dawn Colton, 43, and sister-in-law Jane Menday, 39, were the bridesmaids.

Sandra was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2004 and was told last month the aggressive cancer had spread to her bones and her stomach, despite months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Sandra's oncologist told the couple, who live in The Green, in Southwick, nothing could be done and he was only prepared to give her a prognosis of two months at a time.

Since then, Sandra, who has been a youth worker for 20 years, has brought Christmas forward to November and made arrangements for her wedding and her funeral, along with a trip to New Zealand beyond her first two-month window.

Tom, 49, met Sandra three-and-a-half years ago and proposed to her 18 months later.

He said after the wedding: "Sandra's just so full of joy and life and everything about her is fantastic. I've just enjoyed every part of life with her literally since the day I met her.

"She's been given to me on the one hand but yet is to be taken away from me on the other. It's very hard but I have to keep cool. The rest of the time we have we're going to make the most of."

Since their wedding plans were reported in The Argus, the couple have been overwhelmed by gifts and messages of goodwill.

A whip-round by mums at Sandra's sons' Manor Hall First and Manor Hall Middle Schools, in Southwick, has led to £550-worth of New Zealand dollars being given as a wedding present.

A further £600 was given towards the trip after former colleagues at Adur District Council made a collection.

The suits worn by Sandra's sons were provided free by a suit-hire company and half the money paid for the limo is being donated by The Pink Rolls Royce Company to Breast Cancer Awareness.