PUPPY love was well and truly in the air on Saturday as a country club hosted a wedding with a difference.

A big effort was made to stop the bride from looking ‘ruff’ as the two pampered pooches tied the knot.

Shih tzus Elvis and Bella have had two litters of puppies having fallen in love at first sight – and sniff – in 2014.

So owner Alma Padilla thought it only right for them to become man’s best friend and wife.

The 41-year-old found the ‘ideal’ wedding venue in the Dogs Country Club in Lowton following a two-month search and organised a three-tiered wedding cake made of dog food for the happy couple and a gathering of their four-legged friends to enjoy on the big day.

Alma, who spent more than £2,000 on the wedding and had been planning it since December, said: “I knew the two had to get married after realising they are destined to spend their lives together.

“I got married in a civil ceremony and wanted the dogs to have the wedding I couldn’t have.

“Bella and I chose her wedding dress and everything else together.

“It was a beautiful day but very stressful for me because I had to make sure my babies had their dream doggy wedding.”

More than 70 people went to the wedding, with some coming from as far afield as Scotland.

Seventeen other dogs also attended, including six of Elvis and Bella’s puppies.

There was even a celebrity guest in chihuahua Lady Chelsea, of The Only Way Is Essex TV fame, who was wearing a diamante necklace, blue dress and sunglasses.

Snezhana White, owner and co-founder of the Dogs Country Club on Slag Lane, said: “Congratulations Elvis and Bella.

“It was a wonderful ceremony and everyone was really excited to be hosting our first doggy wedding.

“I am really proud of how the event went – it really was an amazing wedding.

“People came from far and wide to attend and there were so many dogs at the ceremony.

“There was even a special table full of dog food for the four-legged guests, with a beautiful three-tiered wedding cake for them to eat.

“Their owners also had a great selection of food to enjoy.”

Elvis came to live with Bella a few years ago after his original owners could no longer care for him.

Delighted that Bella seems to love him as much as she does, Alma, a married mum-of-three who lives Radcliffe, Bury, and is originally from the Philippines, said: “It was my dream for them to get married after seeing how much they truly love each other, so when my friend offered to help me organise the wedding I was very happy.

“The wedding was very important to me and I was overwhelmed with emotion on the day, especially with how many people turned up.

“I originally invited 53 people but more than 70 came and 17 dogs were there too.

“All of Elvis and Bella’s puppies were very emotional to see their parents get married.

“You could see that it meant a lot to them. We have maintained a relationship with all of them so that they know their mum and dad.

“As for Bella, like any other bride she was very stressed the day before the wedding. She didn’t want to eat but she was so happy when she finally got to marry Elvis.”

Alma added that she could not have chosen a better venue for the big day.

“It was very difficult to find a venue that suited the dogs’ needs and was beautiful, so when we found the Dogs Country Club I was very happy,” she said.

“The venue was ‘ideal’ and played a big part in us all having a really good day.”

The Dogs Country Club offers a wide range of services, such as training, doggy day care and fitness classes for owners and their pooches.

For more information about the club visit dogscountryclub.co.uk.