Two men who fell in love and both underwent full sex change operations are getting married as brides.
Parma Bertoli, 59, and partner Stephanie Nickles, 43, started their relationship when they were both men in 2004.
Stephanie underwent a full sex change in 2006 while Parma underwent the surgery to become a woman in 2008. They even had their birth certificates changed to reflect their new female identities.
The couple, who live in Warndon, Worcester, are preparing to wear their white dresses and get married next month, after they encountered a tragedy when Parma was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor last October and was given less than 12 months to live.
"To us, gender is not an issue in our relationship. We are just two people who met and tried to help each other along. I know I have a very limited amount of time left but it would mean the world to both of us to get married - it would be absolutely brilliant," said Parma.
The couple got engaged while looking for jewelry in 2009 when Parma suddenly got down on one knee and proposed.
Stephanie, who gave up her modelling career to care for Parma, said: "To get married would be such a huge thing for us and would make our lives whole in a way."