A couple kept calm during their emotional first dance - as guests battled to contain a fire raging behind them.

Sam Alomia and her partner John were waltzing to a romantic song when a cold spark fountain set alight a pampas grass display next to the dancefloor.

The newlyweds looked over at the inferno rapidly engulfing the flowers but 'pushed through' because 'we had been practicing the dance for three days'.

Astonishing footage from their wedding photographer shows how guests at a nearby table and a member of staff from the venue scrambled to contain the blaze. The worker then dragged away the 6ft long flaming pampas grass and stamped out the blaze in a back room.

Impressively, Sam and John barely flinched as they pulled off their perfect dance during the colourful reception in Aklan province, the Philippines, on November 19.

The beaming bride said: ‘During our first dance together, the most unexpected thing happened, when the display caught fire.

‘As a chill couple, we just pushed through because we practiced and choreographed the dance for three days. Luckily we finished the routine without any casualties.'

The amused bride added she trusted the people around her so she focused on the special moment instead.

She said: ‘Truly, as a bride, no fire was going to stop me from finishing my first dance. No fire, no wind nor rain could ever stop us from enjoying the night.'