Girlfriend pops the question, then says.. you have 10 minutes before we get married
EXCLUSIVE by Kim Noble 21/06/2009
Birthday treat is actually wedding as Gemma proposes to boyfriend Jamie in front of 180 guests
Suprise wedding
The first Jamie Crook knew of his wedding was when his girlfriend proposed in front of 180 guests... just 10 minutes before they were due to exchange vows.
Gemma had planned everything in secret. She booked the venue and registrar, picked the bridesmaids and best man, but said nothing to Jamie.
Even when he walked into the venue and everyone said “surprise” he still thought it was for his 30th birthday the day before.
But as Jamie began chatting to friends, Gemma grabbed the microphone.
She said: “With all eyes on me, I was trembling with excitement. This was my moment.
“I turned to Jamie and said: ‘You know you’ve always said you’d marry me, well tonight’s the night. You’ve got 10 minutes while I go and get my dress on. I could see his tears welling up and he was utterly speechless.”
As the whole room waited with bated breath for his answer, mum-of-two Gemma, 29, thought about how it was the biggest and bravest gamble she’d ever taken.
She said: “The idea came over a glass of wine with my best mate Zoe while we were planning a surprise 30th birthday party for Jamie.
She said: “Why not go one better and make it a surprise wedding? You’ve been talking about it for years’.
“My first reaction was that it was daft. The date was only eight weeks away. But once the seed of the idea was sown I decided to go for it...with Zoe’s help.
“The more we plotted and planned, the more excited we got. I never doubted for one minute that Jamie would say ‘yes’. We’d been together 11 years and have two lovely sons... Harry, who’s nine and Thomas, who’s eight.
“We’d had our good and bad times but I loved Jamie more than ever and I didn’t doubt he loved me.”
The invitations, venue, flowers, food, dresses, rings and suits had to be sorted out without Jamie knowing.
Gemma, of Lordswood, Kent, said: “When I told Jamie’s mum Jennie and our families, everyone agreed it was a fantastic idea, but there was one voice of caution – my older sister Freddie, who said: 'What will you do if Jamie says no?' I told her 'I didn't even want to think about it'.”
Gemma found a hall at the local leisure centre that was available the Friday after Jamie’s 30th and she found a humanist registrar on the internet.
“We arranged everything by email so Jamie would not catch on. I told her about our lives together and she sent back ideas for our vows. The first time I read them, they were so moving I burst into tears.”
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Then Gemma drew up a guest list of 180 and swore them all to secrecy.
Roping in more friends to help, Zoe stayed up all night making invitations and, as the countdown to the big day ticked away, she ordered cutlery, balloons, tablecloths, flowers, table decorations and bridesmaids’ dresses for the black-and-white themed event.
She said: “With only four weeks to go, my mate Clair, who works at M&S, found a fabulous wedding dress in the sales. I rushed round to hers and tried it on. The strapless embroidered ivory dress fitted perfectly and with Clair’s staff discount it was only £12.”
Because Jamie was working night shifts as a production assistant, it was easier to keep things under wraps – but Gemma knew it would be impossible to keep her plotting from their childen.
She said: “I told them ‘Mummy and Daddy are getting married, but it’s a big secret’. They loved being in on the plot and didn’t breath a word.”
Finally, the day arrived. “I told Jamie we were popping to a friend’s party. As we stood outside the hall doors we heard everyone say ‘Shush’. Jamie flushed bright red and said: ‘Is this party for me?’. As he pushed open the doors, our family and friends all shouted ‘Surprise!’ He was completely bowled over.”
Then came the dramatic moment when Gemma grabbed the mike and proposed.
Best man Scott Devonport said waiting for Jamie’s answer was heart-stopping.
He added: “There was an incredible hush and everyone held their breath.
“The poor bloke was speechless. So I grabbed the mike and said, ‘Well, will you marry her?’”
Gemma said: “Finally he said ‘Yes’, then he grabbed me in his arms and whispered, ‘thank you’. We were shaking from head to toe, tears streaming down our faces. While I rushed off to put on my dress, he put on a cravat and waistcoat.
"When I walked back into the hall on my dad Rob’s arm with both my boys walking in front of me, my heart was in my mouth. I’d waited years for this moment. We made our vows and then had our first dance. When Jamie made his speech he said: ‘I didn’t know I would be doing this until an hour ago. But I’d like you to raise your glasses to my beautiful wife Gemma’.”
Jamie said of his big day: “It never occured to me to say ‘no’. I would have married Gemma 10 years ago. It was only ever money that stopped us getting married. It was the best day of my life. It’s typical Gemma to organise something like this in so little time... and she can really keep a secret!”
And now the couple have something else to celebrate – a new baby, due in September.
Gemma added: “I always said I’d have another baby when we married. Now all my dreams have come true.”
