'I was jilted at the altar - but there's a happy ending to my wedding day agony'

Kayley Stead's ex-fiance suddenly vanished on the morning of their wedding and despite this, she still went ahead with the big day. Two years on, she is now thankful for the disaster

Kayley Stead was happily engaged to her partner of four years but was suddenly left heartbroken when he failed to turn up to the altar on their wedding day.

She found out through one of the groomsmen that her husband-to-be had instead 'taken a drive', with him ending up on a four-hour journey to Portsmouth. On the very same day, he changed his mobile number, leaving the distraught bride-to-be without any explanation.

Not wanting to waste the £12,000 they'd ploughed into their big day, Kayley still lived out her dream day alongside her bridesmaids, despite spending the majority of it in tears. Now two years later, Kayley can confidently say she is glad she was jilted because it allowed her to reconnect with her true love.

Kayley and her ex were set to tie the knot in September 2022 in a lavish ceremony in Swansea, Wales, alongside 120 of their nearest and dearest. However, just two hours before Kayley was due to walk down the aisle, the 29-year-old was told her partner had vanished.

The digital manager claims she has only heard from her ex once, when he requested she returns his work uniform. After a year of committing to singlehood, Kayley reconnected with an old university pal last year - 29-year-old Richard Perrott - and the friendship soon developed into love.

Certain Richard is 'the one', Kayley hopes to one day marry her new beau - and feels grateful to her ex-fiance for leading her to him. Kayley said: "I've actually known my boyfriend since 2013 because we were at university together - we had always been friends. He actually asked me out back then but I'd said no because I was fresh out of a relationship.

"After the wedding, he reached out to say I'm so sorry about what's happened. Then the following September, I replied to a Snapchat video and we carried on talking and he told me we're going on a date.

"I had nothing to lose. I fancied the pants off him when I met him again. He was funny, charming. We didn't really talk about the wedding - he said he knew enough about it.

"Richard's mum said if you were ever to get married, I would never let him do that to you. I would drag him by the ear. It's been so easy and effortless. This is the relationship I've always dreamed of. I know he's the one. I truly feel so safe with him.

"He said I've always thought of me as being his wife. I know there's going to be a ring one day. I have no fear of what happened at the wedding happening with him."

Looking back at her former relationship, Kayley said there were no 'red flags'. They even barely argued, with her being able to count three times when they did.

She continued: "There was no prior warning or reason as to him doing this. He left and didn't have the decency to tell me himself, which was always my problem - how he left me.

"95 per cent of the wedding was my money. His family had contributed towards the donut wall and sweet cart. The rest was my money that I had done overtime for.

"I had sacrificed so much for this wedding and thought I'm not going to get any of this money back. I was either going to go home and cry or cry with the people I loved.

"I was able to celebrate my bridesmaids, my friendships, my family - it was a moment I'd love to go back to. It was about me and what I'd achieved. It wasn't about him."

Despite being left at the altar, Kayley admits the abrupt end to the relationship gave her closure - and helped her find love with Richard. Kayley said: "I'd love to go back and do the day again and thoroughly enjoy the day without any of the crying. Looking back now, I can really feel how much love was in the room.

"I'm glad it happened the way it did and he never spoke to me again. It gave me the closure I needed. And it led me to Richard. I'm so thankful it happened. I never thought I'd find love again. I was so devastated. It just shows that time is your best friend."