Bride-to-be worried Andy Burnham will 'ruin her wedding' sends invite to new PM
Sarah Burwin has become one of Britain’s most talked about brides this week thanks to Andy Burnham.
As a proud Mancunian, she was buzzing to see the new Prime Minister open up his Northern base in the heart of the city earlier this month - until she realised he'd taken over her wedding venue.
Since sharing a tongue-in-cheek TikTok video urging the Labour leader not to 'ruin' her big day, Sarah spoke to LADbible about Burnham promising not to steal her thunder and how she is now rolling out the welcome mat for him.
The 34-year-old shared a comical clip to social media last weekend, which has now racked up more than one million views, where she explained she wanted to have a quick word with the UK's new leader.
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The bride-to-be had been admiring the opening of No 10 North on the news - and the army of 'police and guys with rifles' stationed outside it - when it dawned on her that she's set to get hitched there very soon.
And after seeing snaps of other bridal parties having to muscle their way past a load of cops to get inside the building, she wasn't keen on the idea of them lurking in the back of her wedding photos.
"I love what you've done with the place," Sarah said in the video. "The trouble is, I was planning to get nice photos...and I'm just a bit worried that all of this is kind of ruining the vibe.
"So I would really appreciate it if you were maybe not there that day," she said in reference to Burnham. "I mean, you're welcome, you're invited - but maybe without the police escorts? The guys with the rifles and s**t, because I've got a content creator coming! So I don't really know what we're going to do if it's surrounded by the military and police. Just something to think on, no pressure. But if you could maybe give them an hour off?"
In a bid to drive power out of Westminster, Burnham opened up his Manchester HQ at Heron House. He is expected to work there at least once a week.
Although this is great news for Northerners, it throws a bit of a spanner in the works for engaged couples, as this building is also home to the Manchester Register Office - hence why Sarah issued a public plea.
Burnham, 56, left a two-word comment under her viral video insisting he isn't in the business of photobombing brides, which simply read: "Noted, Saz."
Ahead of her nuptials on 21 August, Sarah spoke to LADbible about sending a formal invitation to the former mayor of Manchester and how she expects a mob of social media users who are invested in the saga to also turn up.
Sarah, who has been engaged to her fiancé Fred since 2024, confessed she couldn't stomach the idea of 'armed police' being in the background of their wedding shots.
"I thought it was funny, but I was just a bit like…it’s kind of ruining the vibe," she laughed. "What are we going to do? Because obviously they need to check people coming into the building.
"What if I'm patted down, what are we going to do then? You know, don't crease my dress!"
Sarah said she hasn't received any correspondence from Heron House advising her of any changes to the security measures, so she is 'assuming it's business as usual' - albeit with an uptick in police presence.
Still, she isn't letting these logistical headaches dampen her spirits, as she is thoroughly enjoying dining out on her 'five minutes of fame'.
"I’ve had comments from people on TikTok being like, 'We're going to head down on the day'…I’ve got a fan club!" Sarah joked. "I’ll be like the people’s princess, I can’t wait.
"I’ve seen it all as a positive, it's just such a funny thing. People are convinced he's gonna turn up, so it'll be a bit anti-climatic if he doesn't."
She's acquired a boatload of new followers who are 'waiting for the update' on Burnham's RSVP, as she sent out an official invitation to the Prime Minister this week, encouraging him to 'pop in' if he's got a spare five minutes.
While listing some of the details, she hilariously wrote: "Pankhurst Suite, Heron House. Well...you know the address."
Sarah said her wedding was originally meant to be a very 'low-key' affair, so she had only invited immediate family members to attend - and she doesn't even have a dress.
"I don't have a dress, I don't have like a bouquet - I just thought, 'Oh it's just a low-key thing'," she said. "My big wedding is the week after. So I haven't planned! Now I need to make an effort."
Speaking about the prospect of Burnham witnessing her say 'I do', she added: "I would love it if he came. Pop in! I was obviously joking when I said don’t be there that day.
"It’s just because I didn’t know how it was going to work with armed police, I thought it would be quite serious. But if him and his security team are willing to pose in some of my photos, then why not?"
Sarah explained that former night-time economy adviser and ex-Warehouse Project boss Sacha Lord also got wind of her video - and he suggested he and Burnham should go 'back to back on the decks' at her after party.
"That would be so funny," she said of the potential DJ set. "Could you imagine if they did? I would die. That would be the best wedding gift. Fingers crossed."
Sarah said she is still 'waiting to hear back' from Burnham on this - and clarified that contrary to popular belief, she is not on the Labour party's payroll, even though she has done wonders' for the PM's public image.
"Someone said to me, 'She’s obviously an inside job and works for the Labour Party and they have paid her to create this'," Sarah told LADbible. "I was like, babe I wish I was getting paid!
"I’m literally just a girl from Eccles. I have no affiliation with them. People are just thinking it's all like fake and set up and I'm like no, I’m actually getting married. You will see me there, you will see the photos!"
Hopefully we get to see a shot of Burnham nestled in between the bride and groom then, eh?
Olivia Burke