Picture the scene: you wake up to a text announcing that one of your nearest and dearest is getting married (yay!). The catch is that the ceremony is the very same day.
Cue a panic about what to wear, sorting spray tans, getting to the venue on time - and to add to the chaos the bride and groom aren’t answering their phones.
This is what happened to the friends and family of Ruth Ridyard, 35, and her now-husband Martin, 38, from Manchester.
They wanted to have a ‘casual and chill’ wedding, and thought the best way to achieve this was by giving their 24 guests zero notice.
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They were super sneaky about the whole thing and went to the trouble of contacting people’s bosses on the sly to book time off for them so they could attend the ceremony, which took place on 22 February last year.
She told others she was planning a spa day or drinks so they would be free. The wedding date was two years to the day of their first date through Bumble.
Ruth, a construction worker, said: "We’ve both been married before, and we wanted it to be casual and chill.
"We were chatting in the kitchen and thought of the idea, and we didn’t ask each other; we just went along with it.
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"We knew we wanted to do it and would make a day of it. However, we have more important things to pay for.
"The good thing was that the people we invited didn't speak to anyone, so that was kept secret, and we could keep the surprise.
"I texted everyone at midnight.
"People took it well, and it was a good response. I got a load of funny reactions from people saying they would do their fake tan at 1am, but they were all fine with it."
Four people who did feel a little let down by the whole thing, however, were Ruth’s four kids, after she told them they would be going to a trampoline park, only for them to end up at the comparatively boring occasion of their mum tying the knot.
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On the morning of her big day, Ruth supped a few glasses of champagne, while ignoring her phone which was going ‘mental’, saying she found it all very ‘relaxing’.
The whole thing turned out pretty affordable too, with the couple spending £400 on a registrar, £500 on their outfits, £300 on a hotel and £200 on Ubers.
She also splashed £1,200 on a reception at a pizza restaurant with ‘shed loads’ of booze, followed by karaoke at a pub.
Ruth said: "We wanted the day to be like any other night but equally something we'd all remember. We had the best day and so did our guests. I might be biased, but it's the best wedding I've ever been to."
Topics: Weddings, Bumble, Food And Drink
Simon Fearn