Surprise Wedding?

Yikes. I'd think it's too risky. If you disguise it as a normal party, some people might bail if something else comes up or they don't feel well, etc.

I haven't personally, but my mom was at one last summer-The "reception" part anyway. Next door to our family friends cottage lives this older couple. Every summer they throw this big party. It starts with a massive family BBQ and then later on at night all regular cottage folks that go to the family friends cottage go over and party. Apparently the grandson of the older couple took his girlfriend out on the paddle boat and proposed, she said yes, obviously. When they got back to the house the local priest (?) had showed up and they got married then and there. I guess the guy had planned it secretly and only told the person officiating. It was such a joyous surprise to all the family apparently and by the time my mom went over they had already been partying hard for hours lol.

I've done a number of them. very cool. Go for it.

Someone I knew from high school did this, I thought it was so cool. Wish I had the guts to pull it off.

That was our original plan. we considered telling out of town people or family but it got to be too hard because most of my people are out of tow

My friend had one. She lives on a lake, had a big cookout! She disappeared in the house for about 40 min came out in a dress and they got hitched. It was fabulous! After the ceremony the bbq continued! Great time

They had one on 4 Weddings.

A couple invited relatives to a Christmas morning brunch. I married them in front of the Christmas tree to everyone's amazement.

Another couple invited guests to a graduation party at a cute cafe. Then the graduate arrived wearing a wedding gown. Not even the photographer knew it was going to be a wedding!

A guy called me wanting to surprise his girlfriend with a proposal and have me walk up right after she said YES and marry them. I explained that the 2 would have to go to the courthouse together and get the license. So, he took her to the beach in the morning and proposed. Then they went to the courthouse and got the license. At sunset, I married them on the beach. They were non-residents so there was no waiting period.

When we first started planning, this is what we wanted to do. But we the closest venue we could find that we could also disguise as a get together was in Myrtle Beach so we had to nix it. Still love the idea of it.

Our venue has hosted a few. They all went very well. One that comes to mind the most...a couple vacationing in our area over the 4th of July weekend. He had it all planned out, and asked her to marry him while watching fireworks from the top of Mt. Baldhead sand-dune. The next morning on July 5th, he surprised her to 10 am wedding. They had about 20 guests, and it was beautiful! Very sweet people!

Yep, I was at one last July. It was an older couple who have been together for years. Every summer, they do an all out backyard party with tons of catered food and drinks. Everything always looks great. None of the guests knew it was coming. All of a sudden, the groom asks for everyone's attention. Everyone stopped talking, and the groom said he wanted to thank everyone for coming, how much everyone meant to him, etc. Then he said that his girlfriend was the love of his life, and in front of his nearest and dearest, he wanted to ask her to marry him. Lots of oohs and aahs -- very cool. Of course, she said yes. Then she said, "But who will we find to marry us?". Their friend, who happens to be an officiant, said, "I will. Do you have the ring?". He said, "Yes". He reached in his pocket and pulled out a wedding band. The officiant said, "Great, because I have the license". And there, just like that, there was a beautiful wedding ceremony. I have to say, I have never had the same type of overwhelming feeling at any other wedding I've attended. No gown, no tux, no bouquet, no emotional music, no processional -- but still, there was something so incredibly magical about it.

This was my original dream, but we had too many out of town guests and couldn't pull it off. If you manage to do it, I'll be super jealous. lol

This was my dream too. Fh nixed it, he thought people wouldn't come and we'd regret it.

My partner married two gentlemen last year; they had a civil union already, and had gathered all their friends for a 50th birthday party. Pretty much the rest was just like Centerpiece's story. And not a dry eye in the house!

Two of my family friends had been dating for YEARS, bought a house together, etc. They were basically married, it just wasn't legal. She really wanted to get married, but he was iffy because he'd been married before. They bought some property together, and then had a housewarming party with all their closest friends. He surprised her by first proposing, then the second surprise was this random guy at the party no one knew (except the groom) was actually a JOP! So they got married right there!

Well, I do have to say that there were several people who make it every year. This year, two couples had a scheduling conflict and went to the other event. They were really upset with the groom for not telling them that this year it was going to be a wedding. The groom told them that he and his future wife had decided not to tell anyone besides her sister and his brother. They wanted it to remain a secret, and if one friend knew, the secret would probably get out. That would have ruined the surprise. I see his point.

No but I think it is a great ides, I just don't have the guts to do it myself.

Wow so many cool stories! I would love to do it, but I already have everything planned. I was just curious.

We did one a couple years ago. They invited everyone to a surprise party for his birthday. Everyone was in the venue, when they thought he would walk in to a surprise, they got surprised when she walked in wearing a wedding gown. They had been together for a long, long time. No one thought they would ever tie the knot. It as pretty great to see the look on the guests faces.