Bride and groom (stock image).Photo:Getty
Getty
A couple wanting a low-key wedding pulled off an epic surprise for their loved ones.Ruth and Martyn Ridyard, who live in Manchester, England, invited 20 guests to witness them say “I do” — but didn’t tell them until the night before the wedding. Ruth recounted how it all went down in a now-viralTikTok video, posted on Feb. 7, called “Surprise Wedding.“Over a photo slideshow, she explained, “There was no fancy proposal… Just a conversation in the kitchen one summer’s day about how fun it would be to plan a surprise wedding.““And because I’m a dog with a bone,” she continued, “I booked the registry office that night.“Alongside a photo of the couple on their second date — dinner at McDonald’s — she explained that they chose Feb. 22, 2024, as their wedding date because they met on Feb. 22, 2022. “I am a trust in the universe girlie,” Ruth wrote.She went on to share that they jumped right into picking the perfect venue, envisioning a spot that’s “casual and chilled with good food and even spicy margaritas.” Ultimately, they chose Ramona, a Detroit-style pizza restaurant in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.With their location secured, the couple then set to work on solving their biggest challenge: making sure all of their unsuspecting guests' calendars were clear on the big day. And they had to do it stealthily.A bride putting on the groom’s ring (stock image).Getty"Over the course of the next few months, I booked all of our guests off work,” she explained. “I contacted bosses, bought people ‘spa days,’ told people we were going for a meal [together] and even roped in members of their family to lie too.““At this point, I’m in a total web of lies,” she continued, joking how she had to be very careful not to let the big secret slip. “I need to avoid them all like the plague because my mouth has a mind of its own.“When the eve of their wedding finally arrived, the couple was ready to blast out their invitations. “We went to bed ready to send a big WhatsApp message out at midnight and then turn our phones off 😂😂😂,” Ruth wrote over her video.She then shared a screenshot of the lengthy message they sent to their loved ones, which began: “If you are reading this message, you are not doing whatever you think you’re doing today, we’ve tricked you :) We’re getting married and you’re invited!“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.The invite went on to list all the pertinent details about the wedding, from the time and location to the dress code (“casual and comfy”) and the couple’s plea that guests “don’t even think about” bringing gifts.Ruth and Martyn gave their four kids — who thought they were spending the day at a trampoline park — “scratch cards” revealing their parents were getting married and informing them of their special roles in the ceremony. Then, the bride popped into a Marks & Spencer store to buy flowers to create her own bouquet.Over an adorable selfie of the family of six in their vehicle on the way to the wedding, Ruth wrote, “25 minute journey into town to our hotel singing Natasha Bedingfield. Our phones are blowing up but we refuse to answer.“Wedding toast (stock image).GettyThe photo slideshow continued with snaps of the couple holding hands right after they tied the knot and a table full of drinks, as Ruth wrote: “Pre-ordered a shed load of booze and unlimited pizza. We didn’t want anyone to spend a penny all day.“One of the final photos showed the bride and groom smiling as they posed together, with the caption: “Might be biased but it’s the best wedding I’ve ever been to.“After her video went viral, receiving more than 500,000 views, Ruth toldNewsweek, “We always knew we wanted to get married this way, and giving everyone a good day out meant the world to us because we wanted to have the same surname; we just didn’t want to spend thousands of pounds just to do that.“She told the outlet that all told, she and Martyn spent around $3,100, which included her dress, outfits for their kids, the registrar fee, hotel, drinks and food.As for having to keep such a giant secret from her friends and family for months, Ruth said, “It all got a bit stressful closer to the time, with people talking to me about their plans, so I tried to stay away from as many people as possible.“Reflecting on the experience, Ruth recalled how perfect the day was — for them and their surprised guests. “Our guests still tell us it was the best wedding they’d ever been to,” she toldNewsweek. “From a surprise point of view, everything was free, and they all got a day off work!”
A couple wanting a low-key wedding pulled off an epic surprise for their loved ones.
Ruth and Martyn Ridyard, who live in Manchester, England, invited 20 guests to witness them say “I do” — but didn’t tell them until the night before the wedding. Ruth recounted how it all went down in a now-viralTikTok video, posted on Feb. 7, called “Surprise Wedding.”
Over a photo slideshow, she explained, “There was no fancy proposal… Just a conversation in the kitchen one summer’s day about how fun it would be to plan a surprise wedding.”
“And because I’m a dog with a bone,” she continued, “I booked the registry office that night.”
Alongside a photo of the couple on their second date — dinner at McDonald’s — she explained that they chose Feb. 22, 2024, as their wedding date because they met on Feb. 22, 2022. “I am a trust in the universe girlie,” Ruth wrote.
She went on to share that they jumped right into picking the perfect venue, envisioning a spot that’s “casual and chilled with good food and even spicy margaritas.” Ultimately, they chose Ramona, a Detroit-style pizza restaurant in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.
With their location secured, the couple then set to work on solving their biggest challenge: making sure all of their unsuspecting guests' calendars were clear on the big day. And they had to do it stealthily.
A bride putting on the groom’s ring (stock image).Getty
“Over the course of the next few months, I booked all of our guests off work,” she explained. “I contacted bosses, bought people ‘spa days,’ told people we were going for a meal [together] and even roped in members of their family to lie too.”
“At this point, I’m in a total web of lies,” she continued, joking how she had to be very careful not to let the big secret slip. “I need to avoid them all like the plague because my mouth has a mind of its own.”
When the eve of their wedding finally arrived, the couple was ready to blast out their invitations. “We went to bed ready to send a big WhatsApp message out at midnight and then turn our phones off 😂😂😂,” Ruth wrote over her video.
She then shared a screenshot of the lengthy message they sent to their loved ones, which began: “If you are reading this message, you are not doing whatever you think you’re doing today, we’ve tricked you :) We’re getting married and you’re invited!”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The invite went on to list all the pertinent details about the wedding, from the time and location to the dress code (“casual and comfy”) and the couple’s plea that guests “don’t even think about” bringing gifts.
Ruth and Martyn gave their four kids — who thought they were spending the day at a trampoline park — “scratch cards” revealing their parents were getting married and informing them of their special roles in the ceremony. Then, the bride popped into a Marks & Spencer store to buy flowers to create her own bouquet.
Over an adorable selfie of the family of six in their vehicle on the way to the wedding, Ruth wrote, “25 minute journey into town to our hotel singing Natasha Bedingfield. Our phones are blowing up but we refuse to answer.”
Wedding toast (stock image).Getty
The photo slideshow continued with snaps of the couple holding hands right after they tied the knot and a table full of drinks, as Ruth wrote: “Pre-ordered a shed load of booze and unlimited pizza. We didn’t want anyone to spend a penny all day.”
One of the final photos showed the bride and groom smiling as they posed together, with the caption: “Might be biased but it’s the best wedding I’ve ever been to.”
After her video went viral, receiving more than 500,000 views, Ruth toldNewsweek, “We always knew we wanted to get married this way, and giving everyone a good day out meant the world to us because we wanted to have the same surname; we just didn’t want to spend thousands of pounds just to do that.”
She told the outlet that all told, she and Martyn spent around $3,100, which included her dress, outfits for their kids, the registrar fee, hotel, drinks and food.
As for having to keep such a giant secret from her friends and family for months, Ruth said, “It all got a bit stressful closer to the time, with people talking to me about their plans, so I tried to stay away from as many people as possible.”
Reflecting on the experience, Ruth recalled how perfect the day was — for them and their surprised guests. “Our guests still tell us it was the best wedding they’d ever been to,” she toldNewsweek. “From a surprise point of view, everything was free, and they all got a day off work!”
source: people.com
