Video: Party time as Britain breaks out the bunting for William and Kate

Streets, squares, pubs and churches were hosting a variety of events to help people enjoy the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Several hundred people gathered in the sun in Manchester city centre, turning an open-air event into a blaze of colour as the wedding was shown on a big screen.

Well-wishers, young and old, were decked out in red, white and blue, shouting and waving Union flags as events unfolded.

As the royal couple were pronounced man and wife, a huge cheer erupted.

Elaine Lowe, 22, from Manchester, who came with a group of friends to watch the event in the city, said: “The rain has held off, the sun is out and we are all having a great day.

“Kate looks stunning and her wedding dress is fabulous. What’s not to like about today?”

Joe Atkins, 27, also from Manchester, added: “I thought I would come and show support and the atmosphere here has been great. I wish them both well. It’s a great day for the whole nation.”

In Somerset, hundreds of people gathered on the Grand Pier in Weston-super-Mare to watch the ceremony.

The pier was gutted by fire in 2008 but reopened late last year.

Its owner, Kerry Michael, said: “It is buzzing here. The atmosphere is electric. The first people got here at around 6am for a champagne breakfast. By nine there were hundreds here.”

In Portsmouth, about 300 people turned out to watch the wedding on a big screen in Guildhall Square set up ahead of the Olympics to show major cultural events.

Amongst those watching were Andrea Grainger, 38, who works as a nanny, and her four-year-old son Jake.

Mrs Grainger said: “We thought it would be nice to come and celebrate with everyone else in Portsmouth.

“It makes it more of an occasion to watch it on the big screen rather than being stuck indoors.”

Jake added: “I am excited that Prince William and Kate are getting married and we are going to the street party to have fun.”

In Plymouth, Devon, celebrations centred on Armada Way, where an estimated 1,000 people watched the ceremony on a giant screen.

Hundreds of people had gathered by 9am, sitting at picnic tables and in camping chairs.

Gavin Sheppard and Debbie Kay, owners of the Devonshire Tea Company, were the first on the scene providing early risers with a cuppa.

Ms Kay said the ceremony and trappings showed that the couple had been allowed to design their own day.

“It was lovely they were allowed to make a lot of their own choices,” she said.

“One man came to our stand saying ‘there will be a run on garden centres this summer, everyone will want trees in church for their own wedding now’.”

Claps and cheers rang out among a crowd of more than 500 people who had gathered at Princes Park in Eastbourne, East Sussex, when the royal couple were pronounced man and wife.

Many took picnics to watch the service on a 25-metre screen before settling down to enjoy live music, dancing and competitions in the afternoon.

Some royalists dressed in wedding outfits to mark the big day, while youngsters waved Union flags in the sunshine.

Sales assistant Kelly Spencer, 22, said: “It’s such a great atmosphere. It makes you feel proud to be British.

“When the whole country comes together like this, it makes you appreciate what a great place we come from.”

Prime Minister David Cameron was making an appearance at Downing Street’s own street party, where more than 100 guests would munch cupcakes baked by first lady Samantha Cameron.

In Cornwall, 30 applications had been made for road closures for parties across the duchy, which has strong ties with Prince Charles.

Northerners were getting in the spirit too, with York’s aptly named Westminster Road staging an afternoon of celebrations including fancy dress competitions and a high tea.

Sheffield is planning a number of street parties, with the focus in the city centre at Devonshire Green.

In Leeds, where Kate Middleton’s father was born, residents geared up for celebrations across the city, including in Roundhay, Horsforth, Rothwell and Meanwood.

And contrary to reports, Hull residents were joining in the celebrations as well.

The city hit the headlines a few weeks ago when the local council confirmed no-one had applied for permission to close a street for a party.

But Hull City Council has since said it has approved six street party applications.

In Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, all the residents of Fairview Street gathered for a party, centred around the Kemble Brewery Inn, which broadcast the wedding on big screens.

By the time the couple moved to the balcony of Buckingham Palace a lot of people had started their own celebrations out in the street.

James Turley, chairman of the party organising committee, said: “The reason that this party has been such a success is because it has been done for the street by the whole street.

“Everyone living here has helped make it look extremely beautiful and everyone is outside having a good time. There’s a real party atmosphere here.”

Hundreds of revellers gathered across the East Midlands to celebrate the wedding.

The ceremony was shown live on screens in Derby, Leicester and Mansfield.

In Derby’s Market Place, which had been decorated with bunting and trestle tables decked out in red, white and blue, around 100 people gathered to watch the nuptials take place.

A loud cheer went up from the crowd as the bride and groom both said “I will”.

Geoffrey Sergeant, 58, a builder from Derby, said: “It’s a lovely ceremony and definitely something I wanted to watch, it’s good to be here to see it with everyone.”

Many revellers had draped themselves in Union flags and face-painting was on offer in the middle of the Market Place.

Dozens of passers-by stopped to watch as the crowd fell silent during the exchange of vows.

Zara Davey, 28, from Derby, said: “She looks beautiful, the dress is amazing. They’re the same age as me so it’s quite strange.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see something like this and I couldn’t miss it.”

In Coningsby, Lincolnshire, the seven aircraft left the RAF airbase this afternoon to perform the flypast over Buckingham Palace at 1.30pm.

The crew had carried out only one practice flying in the mixed formation - made up of a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, followed by two Tornado planes and two Typhoons - on Wednesday this week.

The royal wedding cake has been made by Leicestershire businesswoman Fiona Cairns.

She was commissioned to create the cake, which is covered in cream and white icing and decorated with up to 900 delicate sugar-paste flowers.

In Nottinghamshire, 72 roads were due to be closed to allow festivities to take place.

County councillor Richard Jackson said: “We were delighted when the Local Government Association announced that our county was in fourth place across England and Wales for planning to hold the highest number of street parties.

“This proves that our decision to cut through red tape by waiving the road closure fees has been welcomed by local residents.”

Hundreds also flocked to the centre of Marple in Cheshire to enjoy a sun-kissed day of celebration by the River Goyt.

The street in the centre of town was closed to traffic and draped in swathes of bunting as 800 ticket holders marked the marriage of William and Kate.

The event is thought to be one of the largest royal street parties in the North West.

Karl Guare, chairman of the Marple Bridge Association, said the marriage had captured people’s imagination.

He said: “I think it’s a feelgood factor. We have had doom and gloom for the last three years with the economy. Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong and now people have got a chance to party. There’s a buzz about the whole thing.”

Revellers who were lucky enough to have grabbed a table brought their own party food and drinks while stalls sold everything from champagne and strawberries to cup cakes and a hog roast.

At 2pm Barbara Hayward, sub-postmistress at the Marple Bridge post office, gave a toast to the happy couple.

Mrs Hayward, 50, who dressed as the Queen for the occasion, said: “It’s just brilliant. The number of people that have supported it. It’s a wonderful occasion for people to come together and to forget about all the doom and gloom.”

After the toast, which was cheered by the crowd, partygoers sang the national anthem and Land of Hope and Glory before setting off party poppers.

Amanda and Mark Jones attended with their sons Lorcan, 3, and Theo, 6.

Mrs Jones, 42, said: “It’s something for the children to remember. They watched the wedding on TV this morning and loved the horses and all the pomp and ceremony of it all.”

The association has been planning the event since Christmas following on from the success of the village’s annual winter wonderland party.

However, Mr Guare said he was still surprised by the appetite for a royal street party.

“We could have sold another 1,000 tickets. The phone keeps ringing,” said Mr Guare.

He said the only bad thing was having to disappoint locals who had not managed to get a ticket in time.

Roger Tripp, 66, attended with his wife Jean, 62.

He said: “The wedding went really well. It seemed relaxed and not too stuffy. I think it’s a wonderful community occasion and a great atmosphere.”

Today’s party had live bands, kids entertainment and a royal hat contest.

Proceeds from the street party will go to the armed forces charity Help for Heroes.