We gathered the clan together by telling them that we had a huge announcement to make and wanted everyone there to celebrate with us.
My grandparents were not going to come so I finally told them what was really going to happen and swore them to secrecy. They loved that they were the only ones who knew!

We made a huge sign that said “Our Announcement is: We are getting married tonight!” and it was placed in front of the restaurant. When people walked in they were just crazy happy.

We had loads of fun and the price of the food was ridiculously cheap and so delicious!! A Mariachi Band played people into the restaurant and everyone was handed a margarita as they walked into the section of the restaurant that we took over. We had a solo flamenco guitarist play for the ceremony as well as the dinner – it was beautiful. We got the restaurant owners’ rate on all the entertainment which was much cheaper than if we had hired them on our own. This was a great wedding for us because it was short, sweet, and different!

A year later friends of ours had a surprise Brunch Wedding and they had their own room at the restaurant they chose but everyone went to the brunch buffet line (like the rest of the restaurant’s guests). They paid just the price of a regular brunch and the restaurant had their regular strolling entertainers come in for the actual wedding ceremony. The only thing they paid extra for was the cutting of their wedding cake and their tip was a mandatory 18%. It still was about half the price than if they had it at any of our local wedding reception sites.

The owners of the restaurant escorted all our guests to the banquet room. When they got near the banquet room doors they were handed a fortune cookie to open. When they opened the cookie it said “Surprise! This is not Cathleen’s Birthday Party – this is Jeremy and Cathleen’s Wedding! Enter and Have lots of fun!” We had all the usual trimmings and traditions of a beautiful wedding without the stress of the “Preliminary Planning Rituals”

And we had two cakes – a beautiful wedding cake and a Birthday cake for me (my husband surprised me with the later!)

I think this was a big relief for my parents who felt guilty they couldn’t pay for a wedding for us – so this way they didn’t have to worry and just let themselves have a great time!

And for me I was happy to not have to choose Bridesmaids! I have 15 first cousins and there was no way I could afford 15 Bridesmaid bouquets! We had our parents just stand beside us – no bouquets – just big smiles on their faces.

My husband said he will never forget my Birthday or our Anniversary this way! And every year, we’ll plan on going back to China Wall for our Anniversary.

By the way – Chinese Restaurants are generally much much cheaper than traditional wedding venues! Our wedding cost about half of what it would have cost if we had it at our local Marriott.

Everyone came, we had a great dinner, the best band and loads of dancing. Around 11 I went to change in a traditional wedding dress and then I reappeared at 11:45 right after my then fiance, got on the microphone and said that he wanted to make the next year his favorite yet by beginning the year surrounded by those that meant the most to him and by marrying his soul mate at her “earliest convenience” (he is British!). He then said “Trina will you join me on the stage?” and I came out with my wedding dress on and the minister following me up to the stage. It was a HUGE surprise to all our guests. The minister timed everything so perfectly that he announced us husband and wife exactly at midnight – we kissed and everyone kissed!!!
It was perfect!

The catering staff brought out our wedding cake – we did all the traditional dances and our family and friends said that we were absolutely right – it was the party of the century!

I think surprise weddings are great because you plan them without the interference of everyone else’s opinion on what you should or shouldn’t do and in our case it really was a team effort between my husband and I. I think too often it is the bride planning with her mother or her maid of honor or her bridesmaids and suddenly the groom is not part of the planning.

Our surprise wedding was completely planned just by me and my husband – and I think that actually brought us even closer together! I agree with Samantha – I wouldn’t change a thing!