She added: 'But since joining Slimming World I've lost six dresses. Finally we can do the things normal couples do, cuddling in the cinema, sitting next to each other on public transport and even having a peaceful night's sleep without fear of breaking the bed.'

The couple, who met in 2003, admit to being life-long fast food junkies but say they really piled on the pounds after the births of their children AJ, 11, Tyreece, eight and twins Maddison and Torey, two.

Leisa said: 'When I saw the wedding pictures my heart sank - I felt absolutely disgusted with the pair of us. From the moment I saw them I knew they wouldn't be pictures I'd look back on with a smile and treasure forever. I was so disappointed'

She added: 'Finally we can do the things normal couples do, cuddling in the cinema, sitting next to each other on public transport and even having a peaceful night's sleep without fear of breaking the bed'

Things got so bad that Leisa was recommended for a gastric band when her weight hit 18 stone but when she fell pregnant with their twin girls the operation was put on hold.

Over the next year Leisa's weight crept up to over 20 stone and security guard Noel's weight rocketed to 32 stone.

Leisa said: 'We knew we were big but with a combined weight of over 50 stone we weren't just unhealthy we were ticking time bombs.'

Noel added: 'There was no ignoring how bad things had got. We'd lie awake at night - not because of the kids - but listening to the sound of the creaking bed frame straining underneath us.

'After one night shift I came home exhausted, jumped into bed and the wood just buckled under my weight and came crashing down. We broke the bed three more times after that. We just gave up and slept on the floor on a mattress.'

When Noel proposed in July 2013 Leisa had to telephone bridal shops in advance to check if they catered for plus size brides.

She said: 'It wasn't quite the magical experience I thought picking my dress would be. I was limited to just one store in town and all the dresses that did fit made me look like I was wearing a huge duvet.

'I didn't want to show off any skin or my figure - I just wanted to hide. I wire the longest veil I could find to cover my chubby arms like a cape.'