ANDREW and Deborah Wallace had two reasons to smile yesterday after a day they will remember for ever.

The Wearside couple spent yesterday morning tying the knot at Sunderland Civic Centre, before rushing to the Stadium of Light to graduate from university.

Andrew and Deborah, both 21, met at the start of their biomedical sciences degree course at Sunderland University four years ago, and have not been apart since.

Yesterday, the pair celebrated their wedding and graduation in front of hundreds of fellow students at Sunderland Football Club.

Deborah said: "It has been absolutely fantastic. We have had a wonderful day.

"I know some people might think we are mad for getting married on our graduation day, but we thought it would be something we would never forget."

Andrew said: "The past four years have been brilliant. We have done everything together, from going out to revising together."

After 18 months together, Andrew knew he wanted to be with Deborah for life.

He said: "It just felt right, so I proposed to her on the beach around Christmas last year. Thankfully she said yes."

The wedding and graduation link does not stop there. The couple's bridesmaid, Helen Hindmarsh, also graduated yesterday from the course.

Deborah said: "We met on the course too.

"We have become very close over the past four years."

The couple, who had a romantic night in a hotel last night, are not jetting off on honeymoon. Instead, they are going to stay in the region to try to find jobs with the NHS.

Deborah said: "I don't think we will be looking to get jobs at the same place."