A SLIGHT HITCH
This shock objection to a couple’s wedding vows left guests stunned… but it’s not what it seems
Mark Whiteley and Joanne Green were about to exchange rings when a woman revealed a shocking secret
WHEN wedding guests are asked if there are any objections to the marriage there's always a tense moment.
But friends and family at the wedding of Mark Whitely and Joanne Green were stunned when one guest stood up and stopped proceedings with a shocking announcement.
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She told the congregation: “They’re both married.”
During the uncomfortable silence that followed, a male guest approached the woman and seemed to be quizzing her about it – but all was not as it seemed.
The whole thing was a stunt – and a clever way for the bride and groom, from Rawtenstall in Lancashire, to let the guests know they had already tied the knot.
The couple then played a video to reveal that they had wed in secret at the Rhinestone Wedding Chapel in Nashville, Tennessee, in March, while on holiday.
They kept their marriage to themselves until the bash at St James the Less Parish Hall service three months later.
In fact the official, David Crowley, and the best man Dan Hoffman-Gill were actors from Mark’s drama company, Hard Graft Theatre and the lady who “objected” was another actor, Celia Perkins.
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Mark, 50, explained they had to rehearse their dramatic timing as this intervention was designed to take guests’ eyes off the ceremony, where the bride and groom were making way for a video screening of their legal wedding ceremony in the States.
Mark told the Rossendale Free Press: “We didn’t set out to do anything different but once the seed was sown we had the recipe for an amazing (possibly terrible) day.
"We hedged our bets that it would work out. We just wanted to do something a bit theatrical, we’ve got a flair for a drama.”
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He added: “We were worried about people being upset because it’s extremely sneaky to have been married three months and not even told our children.
“We hadn’t worn rings until the ceremony and we thought that was really important.
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“But it has taught us how important marriage is and how important the sharing of your love with your family and friends is, and it was amazing to exchange rings.”
GP receptionist and nurse Joanne, 49, admitted they only felt properly married once they had made the declaration public.
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She said: “We decided it would be much more fun to get married in America, so we hatched a plan. We were so nervous, we didn’t know if it was going to work.
"Most people kind of expected something unusual because of who we are.
“It was a mix of nerves and excitement knowing we were going to really shock everybody, but they all thought it was brilliant. That day really felt like the wedding - not Nashville.”
The ceremony in the USA was attended and videoed by Mark’s nephew Dylan Williams.
Yesterday, a woman told how she had invited a stranger to her sister's wedding via a plea on Twitter - and bagged herself a husband.
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