Weddings

Are these the worst wedding horror stories ever?!

GLAMOUR readers reveal those big-day disasters

16 June 2017

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When it comes to weddings, you pray the sun shines, your hair doesn’t frizz and that those awkward family members will just get along for one day, but, it turns out there’s a lot more you should be concerned by when it comes to loved ones. Here, wedding guests share their toe-curling tales of when the big day doesn't go quite the way it was planned...

“Most of us have been drunk at a wedding, but there’s a line, right? At a recent one, the bride’s sister spent the evening downing shots and falling over on the dancefloor, before having sex with one of the (married) guests in a Portaloo. And it gets worse: her dad caught her in the act. Luckily, the bride didn’t find out.” Vicky, 28

"My partner and I ended up being an hour late for a wedding. Everyone was still in the church, so we decided the best option was to sneak in one of the side doors. It meant climbing a fence... and we failed – spectacularly. I got my dress stuck, lost my balance, screamed and crash-landed on my boyfriend. The other guests in the church saw the whole thing through a window. We kept a low profile for the rest of the day.” Eloise, 27

“I’ll never forget the speeches at one wedding, where the best man revealed that the groom had lost his virginity behind some bins at a hotel. Nice. It wasn’t passing banter – he explained every small, cringeworthy detail, and it was agonising to watch the bride forcing a smile throughout. She wouldn’t speak to the groom for the rest of the night.” Rosie, 31

“I once spilled tomato soup on the bride by accident. Miraculously, she was so gracious, but I still have nightmares about it.” Ruth, 24

“I went to a wedding where everyone knew the couple were marrying for convenience – it suited them both financially. The day was so unromantic that when the first dance arrived, the bride chose to dance with her mother. By the end of the evening, people were placing bets on how long the marriage would last. Astonishingly, they’re still together. They do live in different cities, though...” Leila, 29

“When I was 14, I was a bridesmaid dressed as a pink Disney princess. My uncle thought it’d be funny to push me in the pool just before the meal, but little did he know he was about to get pushed in, too – with his mobile in his pocket. Karma!” Judy, 27

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“A colleague attended my wedding with her Scottish boyfriend, who was dressed in a kilt with nothing underneath. He thought he would amuse the ladies by lifting up the front of his kilt every time the photographer said ‘smile’. He impressed my grandma and great aunt, but my sister announced, ‘Those are not the crown jewels I was hoping for.’ He didn’t lift it again after that.” Helen, 29

“At my friend’s wedding, her stepmum caused a huge scene and refused to leave her hotel room after she discovered she wasn’t seated at the top table. She had initially sat down for the meal but, after a few wines, started mouthing off about her husband’s ex-wife and then stormed off upstairs. Not too surprisingly, the bride didn’t speak to her for months after.” Shelly, 33

Next check out the most swoon-worthy blogger weddings ever...

@pernilleteisbaek / Instagram
Who?
Pernille Teisbaek
The bride & groom:
Pernille Teisbaek & Philip Lotko
When & where:
August 2017 on the island of Bornholm in Pernille’s home country of Denmark.
@pernilleteisbaek / Instagram
And the bride wore:
A stunning long sleeved, high-necked, pearl-embellished dress by Vera Wang.
You should know:
Guests arrived the day before the ceremony and kicked off the weekend with a mini-golf tournament. The wedding venue was outside in a courtyard decorated with candles, strings of lights, and white wildflower bouquets. Heaven.
Carly Rowena/Instagram
Who?
Carly Rowena
The bride & groom:
Carly Rowena & Leon Bustin (of The Lean Machines fame)
When & where:
27 May 2017 at Fishley Hall in the UK.
And the bride wore:
A stunning Josee gown by Australian bridal brand Grace Loves Lace.
You should know:
It was a complete surprise to guests! The wedding was under the guise of her and her now-husband’s 30th birthdays, they shocked guests by pulling a Jennifer Aniston and holding their wedding instead!
Razia Naqvi-jukes via lilypebbles/Instagram
Who?
Lily Pebbles
The bride & groom:
Lily Pebbles & Rich Garn.
When & where:
September 2016 in the UK.
And the bride wore:
A BEAUTIFUL white wedding dress with lace sleeves. And she teamed her floor-length gown with a pair of silver sandals with a reasonable heel and kept her hair pinned back.
You should know:
She's making a video for fans from her wedding (she's doing two - one for her fans and one to be kept private) and she spent two days at Somerset House to get some much-needed post wedding R 'n' R.
Read our Read our interview with Lily Pebbles

Instagram/ deliciouslyella
Who?
Deliciously Ella
The bride & groom:
Ella Woodward & Matthew Mills.
When & where:
April 2016, in Mustique.
And the bride wore:
A stunning white lace embroidered dress with a subtle v-neck and a small amount of embellishment. Absolutely gorgeous. And we love the neat and tidy wedding veil - perfect for a beach bride.
You should know:
The health conscious couple wasn't going to give her wedding guests a totally healthy meal, telling ES Magazine: "We’ll do what we always do, a mix of the two: fish, potatoes, and big informal platters for sharing rather than plates for each person. It wouldn’t be fair on Matt [who is not vegetarian] to say, 'OK, guys, we’re doing a wheat-free vegetarian wedding — woohoo!'
Ed Peers
Who?
The Frugality
The bride & groom:
Alexandra Stedman & Christopher O'Donnell.
When & where:
13th July 2013. Wandsworth Registry office with 20 guests, then back to their garden for a big party.
And the bride wore:
Dress by Delphine Manivet at Browns Bride, Miu Miu shoes and Louis Vuitton hairband for the day. Alexandra switched into Sophia Webster flats and a Topshop flower garland for the evening.
Ed Peers
You should know:
The newlyweds went to Japan for their honeymoon. Alexandra said it was “the best adventure" of their lives, mainly because “it's hard not to have fun and laughs there”.
Alexandra’s top tip for any budding brides:
"Don't be a bridezilla, it's just not worth it. A chilled bride is the chicest bride. At times it was stressful but on the day, I was really relaxed and enjoyed every moment."
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Who?
The Chriselle Factor
The bride & groom?
Chriselle Lim & Allen Chen
When?
18th August 2012.

And the bride wore:
Chriselle decided to go custom with her wedding dress, and she wore Gucci shoes along with her mother’s vintage accessories - which by the way were all family heirlooms.
You should know:
Chriselle told us: “The best part about our wedding day was at the end. I surprised him with a vintage Rolls Royce rental, and we had a driver to take us around the city and back to the hotel. We were able to recap on our day and finally have a quiet moment together. We both ended up crying in the car out of happiness and the overwhelming amount of love we felt that day. It was my absolute favourite moment, I will never forget it. And of course our unforgettable honeymoon to Greece!"
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Dominique Bader
Who?
Tanya Burr
The bride & groom
Tanya Burr & Jim Chapman.
When?
3rd September 2015 at Babington House in Somerset.
Dominique Bader
And the bride wore:
A wedding dress by the couture British designer Phillipa Lepley. It was a traditional, fairytale dress - what Phillipa calls a ‘proper’ wedding frock. It was made, completely bespoke, from start to finish at her London atelier. Tanya chose a beautiful, ivory, French-lace and a simple but feminine shape - a corseted top with a slightly off-the shoulder, soft neckline and a full skirt. The dress was framed by a wide lace-edged, full length silk veil.'
You should know:
As soon as they revealed their wedding pictures on social media, #jimandtanyagetmarried started trending on Twitter.
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Sadly the couple have called it quits.

Courting Whale Pictures
Who?
What I Bought Today
The bride & groom:
Anneli Bush & Sam Bush.
When & where:
24th May 2014 in Split, Croatia.
And the bride wore:
A custom designed dress Anneli co-designed with her mother, who also created the dress. Anneli completed the look with Jimmy Choo shoes.
Courting Whale Pictures
You should know:
The wedding proposal was so adorable. Anneli told us all about the moment when Sam asked her to marry him.
“He whisked me away to New York for my ‘birthday’, proposing to me at the top of a secluded rooftop, with fairy lights, champagne and a candle lit dinner (with my favourite pasta dish). It was private, romantic and most importantly just the two of us (in other words, boy did good). Our honeymoon was a three-week adventure starting off in Sydney, Fiji and Hong Kong.”
Courting Whale Pictures
Anneli’s top tip for any budding brides:
"Make sure you really enjoy every moment of the planning leading up to the wedding and don´t ruin it by stressing yourself out! Take every moment in on the big day itself; it will be the best day of your life and a once in a lifetime experience."
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Who?
A Fashion Fix
The bride & groom:
Hannah Crosskey & Dean Cox.
When & where:
6th June 2015 at Southend Barns, Chichester.
And the bride wore:
Hannah opted for an off-white, lace and embroidered sweetheart fishtail dress by Pronovias, and she teamed it with a lace cathedral length veil and nude Jimmy Choo shoes.

You should know:
They had a dreamy honeymoon in the Maldives; think sea villa, private pool and their very own personal butler!
Hannah’s top tip for any budding brides:
"Take in every little detail. Your day will fly by so make sure you soak up every last second."
Who?
Something Navy
The bride and groom:
Arielle Nachmani and Brandon Charnas.
When & where:
18th October 2014 at Fisher Island, Miami.
And the bride wore:
Arielle worked with Christian Siriano to custom-design her gorgeous gown. She told Brides: "I showed him a bunch of things I loved and let him do his thing. My dress was the perfect combination of traditional and modern."
You should know:
Brandon proposed to Arielle on Halloween dressed up as a zombie groom (the pair love Halloween).
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For Arielle, the unplanned moments were the best part: “The best part of the wedding was after we walked down the aisle after we were married, and we went the wrong way and wound up having to go through the resort’s kitchen!”
Arielle’s top tip for any budding brides:
"Make sure you have a dress you can dance in and if it's not the dress you wore in the ceremony then invest in a back up that you can change into."
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Mark Seymour Photography
Who?
PoppyD
The bride & groom
Poppy Dinsey and Stephen Taylor.
When & where:
18th October 2014 at St Nicholas Church in Compton, Surrey. Reception was at The Aviator in Farnborough, Hampshire.
And the bride wore:
'Laudin' dress and cathedral length veil by Pronovias, flat shoes by French Sole, jewellery by Tiffany & Co., hair by TONI&GUY and make-up by Emma White Turle.

Mark Seymour Photography
You should know:
Poppy told us all about the proposal: “He proposed whilst I was in bed at Great John Street in Manchester on New Year's Day morning 2014. I was hungover, still wearing my retainer and completely naked so it was DEFINITELY a huge surprise. I can't believe both our families had known he was going to do it, yet I was none the wiser, they never keep secrets usually!”
On the subject of the big day, she told GLAMOUR: “The best bit of the day was the church ceremony, it was really special and exactly what I dreamed it would be.”
And the honeymoon? “We went to Mauritius for the main part of our honeymoon - we spent a lot of it completely blissed out on a private island which we would sail to each morning. Literally heaven. We went to Abu Dhabi for a few crazy days on the way back to London too, I dragged him to see the Broadway production of Beauty And The Beast at Yas Island which was definitely an early test of the marriage.”
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Reportage Gallery
Who?
The Very Simon G
The grooms:
Simon and Nikhil Glazelle. FYI, they meshed their surnames and changed it by deed poll. Simon’s was Glazin, and Nikhil’s was Patel.
When & where:
21st December 2013. They got married at Sunbeam Studios, a photographic studio in Notting Hill.
And the groom wore:
Simon wore a Versace Spring 2013 black and white suit (a catwalk piece), Givenchy shirt and Christian Louboutin studded shoes. Nik wore a Vivienne Westwood Fall 2013 suit, Givenchy shirt and Valentino shoes.
Reportage Gallery
You should know:
Nikhil popped the question to Simon on New Year’s Eve while they were in Monte Carlo. Simon added: “It was a total surprise! He got down on one knee and everything!”
On the subject of his wedding, Simon said: “Cliché, I know, but the whole day was absolutely perfect. I was convinced something would go wrong, but nothing did. From the music, food, flowers, black and white dress code... everything was amazing.”
The pair went on a “magical” honeymoon to Thailand; visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi.
Simon’s top tip for any budding brides (or grooms!):
"You don't have to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the finer details, but be creative. And half way through the wedding, drag your other half off to a quite room or corner and take it all in - really take it in though, look out at your guests and the room and remember that moment. It will whizz by!"
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Acres of Hope
Who?
Kelli Murray
The bride & groom
Kelli Murray & Sam Larson.
When & where:
15th November 2009 in a friend’s back garden in El Cajon, California.

Acres of Hope
And the bride wore:
Dress by Pronovias and ‘pearl’ flats by Jeffrey Campbell. Kelli’s sister did her hair and her good friend Janelle did her makeup.
Acres of Hope
You should know:
Kelli and Sam’s wedding was largely DIY. She told us: “We didn't have a huge budget to work with, but some of my favourite details from our day were those that we created ourselves. The very best part of our wedding day, for both of us, was being able to celebrate our love with all the people we care about most in this world. I don't think another party will ever top that one for us.”
Acres of Hope
Kelli’s top tip for any budding brides:
"One thing that I am so happy we invested in was a great photographer and videographer. I love that we are able to relive that incredible day through photos and video footage for years to come."
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Who?
Oracle Fox
The bride & groom:
Amanda Shadforth and Sam Williams.
When & where:
With both of them being so busy, they decided to select a date that both of them would remember forever - 20/10/2010. Where did they tie the knot? Bali.
And the bride wore:
Amanda wore an Australian designer dress by Sass & Bide, which she teamed with a headdress that she designed herself. She opted for no shoes - just coin anklets.

You should know:
The digital influencer told us: “The best part of my wedding was having an intimate group of friends join us in Bali without the pressure of a large wedding. The wedding and honeymoon location were combined in the one place which allowed guests to stay on if they wanted to for a week full of fun and festivities.”
Amanda’s top tip for any budding brides:
"Invest in a great photographer, know that you don’t always have to take a traditional approach. Don’t overthink everything, it is all about having a good time."
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Yes, click here.[/i]
Kerrie Mitchell
Who?
Happy Distractions
The bride & groom:
Claire Atri & Steve White.
When & where:
1st October 2015, at Gaynes Park in Epping.
And the bride wore:
Claire chose a stunning Mori Lee gown from the wedding dress shop, Bellissima. Claire teamed her gown with a headpiece that was custom-made for her especially.
Kerrie Mitchell
You should know:
Claire told us all about the proposal: “Steve proposed when we were away for a few days exploring Bath - it was a complete surprise! We'd just moved into our first house we'd brought together, so went away for a few days to relax and then it happened!”
She’s still overcome with joy over her big day; “I honestly couldn't pick a best bit about the day, I know everyone must say this but it was so perfect! Getting married in the beautiful Orangery amongst all our loved ones and seeing my decor, designs, and ideas come to life was so exciting and rewarding to see!”
Kerrie Mitchell
Claire’s top tip for any budding brides:
"I would say try your best to just enjoy it but stay calm and keep things in perspective. You are there to marry your best friend and love of your life, not put a production on for guests (even though at times it might feel like it!). Remember the reason for the day and stay focused. Also, take at least one night off a week from wedding talk with one another!"
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Give her a chance! She's only just got married. Read all about her hen weekend by clicking here.[/i]

Anushe Low
Who?
Susie Sweats
The bride & groom:
Susie Edwards and Stuart White.
When & where:
5th October 2013 at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire.
And the bride wore:
Susie wore a Jenny Packham "Willow" dress, a champagne vintage-inspired dress with an abundance of tulle, silk and embellishment. She told us: “I loved the Gatsby vibe of the dress and it was the only dress I put on that I felt like me in. I felt the most glamorous I've ever felt and I loved the fact that there was so much hidden detail in the dress. Now I just need an excuse to wear it again!”
Anushe Low
You should know:
Susie and Stuart began their honeymoon with a South African safari before heading to Mozambique to relax on beautiful beaches. Susie said: “We wanted an adventure and we certainly got it! We experienced more in those two weeks than we had in years and have memories to last a lifetime. A pride of lions walking through your camp while you're tucking in to your evening meal...most exhilarating experience of my life (and the scariest!)“
Anushe Low
Susie’s top tip for any budding brides:
"Take a few moments throughout the day to step back and just observe - watch your guests enjoying themselves, listen to the music and soak up the atmosphere. It's so easy to just go through the motions of your wedding day but some of my favourite memories were when I took a few seconds to step back and absorb the atmosphere. The feeling of watching all our loved ones having fun at our wedding will stay with us forever."
[i]Can I read more about their big day? Not really, no. But if you're into yoga, Susie's your girl. She ditched her full time job to be a yoga teacher, find out all about her journey by clicking <a href=“http://www.susiesweats.com/" target="_new">here.</a>[/i]