I recently officiated a surprise wedding to be celebrated with family and friends. The guests were all attending the couple’s son’s first birthday and expected cake, kid’s games and happy birthdays all round. But they got a wedding as a bonus.

The squeals of delight I heard when the couple’s two daughters found out that their mum and dad were about to get married and that they were shortly to be flower girls were just beautiful. The secret had been very well kept.

As I headed into the party room a few people looked at me, wondering, I guess, who this new person was, but the shock came when the music started and the girls entered, throwing rose petals, followed by the beautiful bride on her dad’s arm. Of course, the guests were very surprised, but I felt the love and joy that they all felt and articulated with their comments of “what the…??”.

The couple’s mums witnessed the ceremony and were still in a state of shock as they signed the documents. It was possibly not the wedding they’d had in mind for their son and daughter but they were so happy to be part of this family celebration of love and commitment. Guests waylaid the couple even before we could sign documents and it took me a bit to wrangle them back to finish the ceremony, such was the love and desire to offer wishes and congratulations.

But we did finish and I announced the new couple as husband and wife… Mr and Mrs… and the family went on to party the afternoon away with their guests, and I’m guessing kid’s party pies and fairy bread were on the menu alongside the bubbles for the adults. It really was a lovely surprise for the family members and friends: they all looked so happy to be part of the celebration.

Next time you’re invited to a ‘party’, look out – it might be a surprise wedding.

With love…