Oh baby! Couple tie the knot at their daughter's christening
GUESTS at a christening were left speechless when the service turned into a surprise wedding ceremony.
Stephen Dooley and Kelly Lacey had invited about 130 family and friends to see their five-month-old daughter Millie, christened.
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SURPRISE: Family and friends with Stephen, Kelly and baby daughter Millie at Sacred Heart Church, in Hanley.
But just as those who had filed into Hanley's Sacred Heart Catholic Church thought proceedings were coming to an end, the day took an unexpected twist.
Father Peter Weatherby, who was one of a handful of people in on the surprise, joked how it would have been nice if the couple could get married there and then, and asked if there were any best men or spare rings available.
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And when Stephen's three best men, who were also in on the surprise, produced two rings, the wedding ceremony was officially underway, leaving the majority of the church speechless.
Only eight people in the building – including the bride, groom and vicar – knew about the wedding.
Stephen's mum and dad, Ann and Tony Dooley, from Porthill, had no idea they were about to watch their youngest son get married when they turned up for the christening at 1pm on Saturday.
Ann, aged 60, said: "I couldn't believe it. We had no idea. It was a lovely service."
Tony, aged 70, said: "I think I'm still in shock."
Stephen's brother Neil Dooley, aged 38, from Porthill, said: "I thought they were joking at first, but then I realised they actually were going to get married."
Stephen and Kelly, who have been together for seven years and had been engaged for the past three, said they were delighted with how well their surprise big day went.
The couple, from Hillport Avenue, Porthill, had been secretly planning their wedding for eight weeks.
Kelly, a 30-year-old PA at The Co-operative Funeral Care, said she wasn't too fussed not to be wearing a traditional wedding dress.
She said: "We've been together for seven years and engaged for three years but it seemed like we would never get round to getting married.
"We had been saving some money but then Millie came along and that took up quite a bit of our money.
"We spoke to the Father at the church about the possibility of getting married after the christening and he was very excited and agreed."
Stephen, a 32-year-old builder at Alton Towers, said it had been hard work keeping the big day a secret.
He said: "My three best men have known about it for a week because I let it slip on a night out and Kelly's mum and best friend knew about it because they had helped her out with the planning.
"Everyone who we would want at our wedding was going to be at the baptism, so we thought we would save everyone the hassle of having to go to both and combine the two."
After the service, the couple headed off to the Polite Vicar, in Newcastle, to celebrate.
There was no traditional first dance, but best men Andy Woolridge, Kev Lunt and Courtney Watling all got up to say a few words.
And a half-and-half cake was produced, with a teddy one side to celebrate Millie's big day, and a horse shoe and bell on the other for Stephen and Kelly's landmark.
Comments
by E_D_Wivens
Thursday, June 14 2012, 5:09PM
“Roman Catholic, thank you very much.. not that there's any other kind. I even used to be an altar boy when I was little, but got sacked when I was caught drinking altar wine in the vestry.”
by Alberus
Thursday, June 14 2012, 4:46PM
“Wow!! This is really modern stuff!! Is this what they do at christenings these days? In my day this kind of thing was settled with father-in-law (as we used to call him) waving a big shotgun around. Whatever next, I ask myself. This is too much for me I'm afraid, what with all those Victorian values that were instilled in me at my mother's knee. Now we hear that "gays" (is that the right word?) by order of Mr Cameron, (who seems to be ploughing a lone furrow on this) will have to have a proper church wedding with cakes and candles and everything. From what I gather the "gays" are not that keen to do this and think Mr Cameron is having another of his turns (or is that Uturn?) Oh dear, I do find all this modern stuff a bit hard to understand, I'm afraid. Anyway, enough of all that, Wivens has outed as a Catholic. May explain quite a lot, that.”
by E_D_Wivens
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 9:56PM
“I miss the Latin Mass, and old-fashioned Benediction when it had the Stations of the Cross. Even High Mass on Sundays is rubbish now, it's full of folk music, it's more like a hippy festival, none of the old hymns are sung anymore.
How can three best men produce two rings, by the way?”
by barneycha
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:56PM
“Ha how religion is confused with faith!! Modern times may bring a better understanding of God, rather that a religion that man uses to control man!!! Maybe thats why people have thrown the restrictions straight out the door! Its about truth not tradition!!!
Most importantly, I think its beautiful that this modern couple have still wanted to complete their union of love for each other and for their gorgeous little lady!!! A treat, a gift, a blessing!!!
I also thnk they are a fantastic example-that in a world where weddings are portrayed as an opportunity to illustrate pompous opulence-that its about their personal commitment to each other that is being achieved, rather than a vanity affair!!
I wish them all as a family much love and happiness!!”
by E_D_Wivens
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:22PM
“Hmph, funny sort of Roman Catholic church if you ask me, baby first, then baptism, then wedding. Wouldn't have happened like that in my day. Must be one of those new hipster priests. Nothing "old-fashioned" about this at all.”
by bigmouth666
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 10:00AM
“Personally, I think the Romans did'nt chuck enough Chirstions to the lions when they had the chance.”
by bigmouth666
Tuesday, June 12 2012, 8:07AM
“Don't think the Catholics condone child abuse, but as we all know, some following that church commit it though, and others covered it up allowing it to continue for years. I thought it was a nice move by the church in question to show it was being progressive. At least they dud nit contraception anyway, you know what the Catholics think of that.”
by lipstick2010
Monday, June 11 2012, 9:37PM
“Emlouj- love a great debate! Still wishing them good luck!”
by Emlouj
Monday, June 11 2012, 9:19PM
“To lipstick2010 its narrow minded people like you that infuriate me . So what if they did things in the 'wrong order ' ?! Does this really matter so long as they have continued love for eachother and their daughter ?
Im in a similiar situation myself : relationship at 19, daughter at 22 and engaged at 24 . I assume then I would be comdemmed by the pope . Get with the times . This is the 21st century.
Huge congrats to the family and what a wonderful suprise for everyone involved ! I wish you a life time of happiness !”
by lipstick2010
Monday, June 11 2012, 9:13PM
“Bigmouth loving your comment! Everyone is privy to their own opinion! And that is mine!
may I point out that the catholic church forbids sex before marriage and yet a child is christened on the day of their parents marriage in a catholic church! I wished them luck anyway
So what's problem? Just shows how times have changed! But it's not for me!!”