As the nation held its breath watching the football on Tuesday night, one couple hoped that it would be business as usual for England at the penalty shootout.

Anne-Marie Carey, 32, and Dominique McCormack, 27, set their wedding date as Saturday July 7 two years ago and hoped that nothing would get in the way of their big celebration.

The couple are getting married tomorrow afternoon at the Bolholt Country Park Hotel with the ceremony due to kick off in the middle of the England match.

Speaking about England’s victory against Columbia this week, Dominique said: “It was the only time we wanted England to lose. But when you want them to lose, they win!”

England play Sweden tomorrow at 3pm in their first World Cup quarter final since 2006, but 85 wedding guests in Bury will be otherwise engaged.

All TVs will be off at 3:30pm when the brides tie the knot, but they suspect that their guests will be watching the game on their phones or listen in through earpieces.

By half time, the ceremony should draw to a close and the brides will head off to have their photos taken while guests scramble to the pub to watch the second half.

The couple said: “We’re a bit gutted about the football as everyone will miss it, but at least they will see the second half.”

The newly-weds will join their guests for the reception at 5pm, just in time for penalties.

Dominique from Whitworth in Rochdale and Anne-Marie from Bacup near Rossendale say that they aren’t really football fans themselves, but they clocked the clash when family members pointed it out to them last weekend.

Dominique said: “I just thought, ‘how have we managed to put it on the same day?’”

The couple have been together for five years after first meeting on a dating site and getting engaged three years later.

This weekend, they’re hoping that England will win so that the result will brighten everyone’s mood on their big day.