Denise Nolan has married her fiancé Tom Anderson after three decades of engagement and 47 years together.
The Nolans singer, 72, finally walked down the aisle with her long-term partner, 77, on Monday on Blackpool’s famous seafront, surrounded by her sisters.
The couple first met in 1977, while Denise was singing in The Nolans and Tom was the drummer for London Rooms in the West End, later playing in her band when she was a solo artist.
He soon popped the question to the star in the ’90s, but the couple didn’t feel the need to set a real date – until Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago and they decided it was time to make things official.
Denise was joined by her sisters Linda, 65, Coleen, 59, Anne, 73, and Maureen, 70, for the big day, while the ceremony included a special tribute to late sister Bernie, who died at 52 years old in 2013.
Denise Nolan has married her fiancé Tom Anderson after three decades of engagement and 47 years together (pictured together)
The Nolans singer, 72, finally walked down the aisle with her long-term partner, 77, on Monday in Blackpool, surrounded by her sisters (pictured).
The couple first met in 1977, while Denise was singing in The Nolans and Tom was the drummer for the London Rooms in the West End, later playing in her band when she was a solo artist.
And during the reception, the sisters reunited to perform together once again, with their original dance routines.
While sister Linda made a hugely generous gesture to the happy couple, after moving in with them a year ago amid her battle with cancer.
She was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2005 before being given the all-clear in 2006, but sadly the disease returned in 2017 and then spread to her liver and brain.
After all of Denise’s support during her treatment, she decided to help pay for her nuptials with Tom to thank them.
Talking about the big day for OK!She gushed: ‘It was such an emotional experience for all of us that it seemed like a fairy tale come true. Watching Denise walk down the aisle, knowing all the years of love, trials and triumphs she and Tom have shared, brought me to tears.
‘We’ve faced a lot together, and being there with my sisters, celebrating such a beautiful union, made me feel deeply grateful for the bond we share.With everything that has happened in my own life, moments like these become even more precious.
‘W.We have always been each other’s pillars of strength, but that day, the joy and love in the air was palpable. It was a day full of laughter, tears and memories that I will cherish forever. Life is unpredictable and often hard, but moments like these, surrounded by those we love, make it all worth it.’
Instead of wearing a traditional white wedding dress, Denise opted for a long yellow dress embellished with sequins, paired with a sparkly navy jacket and matching headpiece.
Tom popped the question to the star in the ’90s, but the couple didn’t feel the need to set a real date – until Tom was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago and they decided it was time to make things official.
Denise was joined by her sisters Linda, 65, Coleen, 59, Anne, 73, and Maureen, 70, for the big day, while the ceremony included a special tribute to late sister Bernie, who died at 52 years old in 2013 (pictured in 2010). )
Her brother Brian walked her down the aisle to her own version of Frank Sinatra’s You, My Love You and she and Tom exchanged “I love you” rings, with Denise revealing that “everyone in the room was crying.” Linda photographed in 2018)
Her brother Brian walked her down the aisle to her own version of Frank Sinatra’s You, My Love You and she and Tom exchanged “I love you” rings, with Denise revealing that “everyone in the room was crying.”
During the speeches, he gave a special reading to Tom, including the quote: “The day I met you, I found the piece I was missing.” Meeting you was destiny, becoming your partner was a choice, but falling in love with you was out of my control.
In honor of her late sister Bernie, a recording of the family singing together at her wedding to Steve Doneathy in 1996 was played during the ceremony and one of Bernie’s songs was also played at the reception.
Denise explained: ‘Obviously, not a day goes by that we don’t think about her. But you can’t mention it too much because she becomes very sad. She was a great presence in our lives. She was very outgoing and very funny. So whatever party we have, we know she should be there.”
The first dance was Stevie Wonder’s Sunshine of My Life, before all the Nolan sisters took to the floor for an impromptu performance.
Denise recalled: ‘The DJ had a full set of the girls’ songs, so he played them and the girls did all the routines, which everyone loved. We all really like to dance!
“Coleen went to change her beautiful, elegant shoes into her sneakers because she wanted to dance, and I ended up dancing barefoot because my shoes were killing me.”
The couple ended up not getting home until midnight after spending the night partying with their loved ones, including brothers Tom Jr and Brian, and Coleen’s boyfriend Michael Jones, as well as their son Jake Roche.
Denise and Tom are going on their honeymoon this week to Scarborough, but revealed it would be another family affair and said Linda, Maureen and Anne would be going with them.
While sister Linda made a hugely generous gesture to the happy couple, after moving in with them a year ago amid her battle with cancer (Linda and Denise pictured in 2000)
She was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2005, before the disease returned in 2017 and spread to the liver and brain. After all of Denise’s support during her treatment, she decided to help pay for her and Tom’s nuptials to thank them (pictured in October).
The first dance was Stevie Wonder’s Sunshine of My Life, before all the Nolan sisters took to the floor for an impromptu performance (pictured in 2009).
