Scots couple shock family after 'surprise proposal' party turns out to be wedding day

Lovebirds Carla and Gary had actually planned their surprise wedding on the same day.

by · Daily Record

A couple got married in front of their stunned friends and family - who thought they'd been invited to a secret proposal.

Loved ones were asked to attend a 'photo shoot' for a wedding shop run by Lia and Ashley Smith. The guests were told that Gary Anderson would then spring a surprise at the do and propose to Lia and Ashley's mum Carla Krzyzanowski.

But Carla and Gary from Muir of Ord in Scotland had actually planned their surprise wedding on the same day - and stunned guests by tying the knot. The bride explained that she "wanted it to be all about our commitment to each other rather than being a big cost".

Carla said they started the secret wedding by inviting people to a photoshoot for her daughters' wedding shop called Ashlia.

(Image: SWNS)

She said: "Everyone who was invited was told that there would be a surprise proposal from Gary. But what they didn't know, is that we were actually getting married!

"So we had a photoshoot, that turned into a surprise engagement, and then into an actual wedding!"

Other than Carla and Gary, the only people who knew about the secret wedding was staff at Estate of Ord.

Carla continued: "When we revealed it, my two daughters were very upset that they didn't know about it, and Gary's sisters were upset that they didn't know either. But it was all fine in the end - it was a really beautiful and romantic day.
It also took place on Friday the 13th, which is my lucky day!

"We've been getting lots of messages saying how beautiful it was, and that it was the best way of doing it - because the wedding wasn't about being expensive. It's just about the ceremony and our commitment to each other, and we've got older children now."

Carla admits it was quite a 'lonely' process to be trying on wedding dresses on her own. But she explained the couple "wanted it to be all about the ceremony, and just a commitment to each other'.

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She added: "It was very hard to keep it a secret over 29 days, and the guilt was horrendous. I really wanted to tell. We found it extremely hard. And obviously we would have loved other people to have been there who couldn't be there.

"Gary told everyone he was going to propose to me to try and get as many people as we could. Everyone is saying we will be doing everything backwards now we have to plan a hen night!"

Explaining more about their plans for a honeymoon, Carla said: "We have plans to go to New York next year with our children, since they will be turning 16, 18 and 21 - so it's a big thing! We are also heading to Belgium in October, to support my best friends' husband

Marty Ross, who is racing for Great Britain. So we will have a mini-honeymoon while he's doing that!

"In 2026 we are hoping to have our proper honeymoon. Gary wants to do a world tour and I want to go to Bora Bora so we've got until 2026 to agree!"

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