Obese Essex groom reveals how he lost SIX STONE in time for his wedding

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Tom Welham, 29, was 21st 7lbs when he met Abby through dating site
He vowed to lose weight after proposing to his slim bride-to-be
Ditched pork pies, sausage rolls and pizza to shrink to 15st 10lb
Newly slim, he choreographed an 'epic' first dance to impress his new wife

Published: 09:31 EST, 3 September 2015 | Updated: 09:36 EST, 3 September 2015

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A groom who weighed in at 21st 7lb has shed almost six stone in the run up to his wedding to impress his slim bride - and give her an 'epic' first dance.

Tom Welham, 29, from Colchester, Essex, ditched pork pies and pizzas, and took dance lessons as part of a new exercise regime which saw him shrink to 15st 10lb

And on their big day the couple performed a medley of choreographed moves - with songs including the Macarena, The Time Warp by Rocky Horror Picture Show and Robbie Williams' Rock DJ.

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Tom Welham, 29, from Colchester, Essex, weighed 21st 7lbs (left) and lost six stone for his wedding to Abby (right)

When he proposed last year, Tom knew his slender fiancée would be a stunning bride but he revealed he was worried about what he would look like in their wedding photos.

Tom, a teacher, said: 'Once I'd popped the question I knew I had to lose weight. I'd always imagined doing an epic first dance with Abby and I knew I couldn't do it at the size that I was.

'I wanted to make sure I got it right, I didn't want to look back and be horrified.'

When they met through a dating website, Tom loved snacking on calorific pork pies and sausage rolls.

In a typical day Tom could eat two large Dominos pizzas, sausage rolls and lots of white bread with lashings of butter - and he could easily polish off a six-pack of pork pies in one sitting.

He tipped the scales at 21st 7lb at his heaviest, and at 6ft 3in his BMI was 37.6 - double what it should be.

He wanted to impress the 'love of his life' with an 'epic' first dance (pictured) - even taking dance lessons

However after proposing to the Abby, who he describes as the 'love of my life', he embarked on a strict diet and exercise routine - even incorporating dance lessons into his programme.

He said: 'Before I'd even considered marriage I already knew I had to do a fun wedding dance.

'I wouldn't have been happy doing it if I didn't lose the weight - I wanted it to be perfect for me and of course for Abby too.

'It's normally the bride who wants things perfect, but I needed to lose weight to make it perfect for me.

'Having proposed, I wanted to look my best for the wedding photos. I'm going to look back on these for the rest of my life, and I didn't want to be fat.

'When we were dating Abby would get a bit concerned about the junk food I go for in the cupboard.

'She's happy if I'm happy, but she's been so supportive of me as I've lost the weight.

'The weight did make me a bit self-conscious when I was getting ready for dates. Abby saw past all that though.'

Tom knew his slender fiance would be a stunning bride but worried what he would look like in the photos

After signing up to the Cambridge Weight Plan, a programme that includes healthy eating alongside meal replacements, he lost four stone in four months.

As the couple planned their dream wedding Tom's continued to shed the pounds - and by the time they married on July 25 at Wroxall Abbey Estate, Warwickshire, Tom was 15st 10lb.

He said: 'People were amazed when they saw my weight loss. Everyone said I look so much younger and healthier.

'There were a lot of people at the wedding we hadn't seen for years, relatives coming from abroad, and there were a lot of shocked faces.

'There was a running joke - we did save the date magnets with pictures, which were taken before I lost any weight.

DIET BEFORE

BREAKFAST: Thick white toast with butter

LUNCH: Pork pies, sausage rolls and chips

DINNER: Two large takeaway pizzas

SNACKS: Chocolate and crisps

DRINKS: Coke and fizzy drinks, pints of cider

DIET AFTER

BREAKFAST: Cereal

LUNCH: Salad

DINNER: Chicken and vegetables

SNACKS: Cashew nuts

DRINK: lots of water

Teacher Tom indulged in pork pies, sausage rolls, chips and pizzas, but now eats lots of chicken and salad

'A few people joked that everyone would think Abby had married a different man!

For the first dance, the couple kicked off swaying conventionally to Elton John's Your Song before the music cut and a medley of dance hits blared out.

Songs included Tom Jones It's Not Unusual, 5,6,7,8 by Steps and Jackson Five's Blame It On The Boogie as the newlyweds performed a routine of complicated dance moves.

Abby, a primary school teaching assistant, is delighted with her new slim-line hubby, and said she was very proud and impressed with his success.

She said: 'His weight never bothered me - from a health perspective I did worry, but I loved him for who he was.

I wanted to look my best for the wedding photos. I'm going to look back on these for the rest of my life, and I didn't want to be fat

'But I thought it was a great idea when he decided to lose weight for the wedding.

'He was very passionate about it and of course I supported him, but I never pushed him.

'The wedding dance is very Tom - I was a bit nervous but I knew how much it meant to him.

'He really wanted to do it and it was a lot of fun.

'He arranged the whole thing, choreography and everything, and I'm really glad we did it.

'It was lovely to see a more confident Tom that I haven't seen before.

'He's always been happy but losing weight gave him an extra boost, which is lovely to see.

'It took a lot of willpower, and I'm so proud of him.

'Sometimes he found the diet quite tough, but when he sets his mind on something he's very determined.

'There were times he would reach for a pork pie, but the thought of losing weight for the wedding kept him going!'

After proposing, Tom signed up to the Cambridge Weight Plan and lost four stone in four months. By the time the couple married at Wroxall Abbey Estate, Warwickshire, Tom was 15st 10lb (pictured)

Tom, a media production teacher at the Colchester Institute, added: 'When I was fat my health was a worry.

'I worried I might not live as long, and when I had children it would be a struggle to keep up with them as I tired out easily.

'Most of our friends and family are already placing bets on when we have children.

'I wouldn't have been able to run around parks with any future kids before - it will all be much easier now.

'I even did a 10 kilometre run for charity, and my next goal is to see some abs!

'I'm so much happier and healthier now, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with my amazing wife.'