Heart-warming moment Doncaster couple surprise friends and family by getting married at daughter’s christening

A Doncaster couple surprised their guests at their daughter's christening - by getting married.

Elisha, 25, and Ryan Kerley, 29, kept their wedding a secret from all their friends and family.

Their guests thought they were at St Peters Church to see their nine-month-old daughter Olivia Rose get christened on October 25. But before christening took place, Alisha appeared in a wedding dress in front of her 50 surprised guests - and the pair tied the knot.

Oliva Rose was christened after they wed and they celebrated with their family at home.

The couple, who have been together for 5 years and got engaged in May 2022 only let Elisha's parents - Susan, 57 and Billy Bouse, 62 - in on the surprise.

Elisha, a train operator and Ryan, a business owner, only decided six weeks prior to get married on the same day - desperate to seal the deal. They told Elisha's parents the day before the wedding so Billy could walk his daughter down the aisle.

Susan, a deputy manager, said: "Every single person in that church cried. I walked into the church first with Olivia Rose and I pretended I had her instead of my daughter because she needed changing.

"I was on cloud nine for the two days, I couldn't believe it and neither did anyone else. Even people passing in the village were shocked.

"Most people were saying 'I only dressed for a christening' but I knew beforehand and I just didn't know what to wear, but Elisha and Ryan said to wear anything I would be comfortable in.

"Elisha told me the day before and all of a sudden I found myself in the church going through a practice run of the wedding and christening.

"The vicar made us laugh, as he said it had to be done the proper way, so they were married before the christening - rather than the other way round."

The groom's father Kevin, 60, and his mother Sam, 55, were asked by Elisha and Ryan to set up a marquee in their garden for an afters to the Christening. But they had no clue the couple were tying the knot.

Susan said: "We all thought the marquee was quite a lot of effort for a christening, but Ryan's parents are really good like that, and set up a great marquee anyway.

"They rented one and put it in their back garden with a hog roast for food and mobile bar.

"Ryan’s aunties Sarah and Mally dressed the marquee to an amazing standard for the christening as they had no clue either."

Susan said she hadn't missed out on wedding dress shopping - as they had already done it but Elisha hadn't picked out a gown.

She said: "We had actually gone dress shopping before, so I didn't miss out on that, but as they decided to marry so quickly Elisha actually ordered her dress from Boohoo. She looked beautiful."

Elisha also decided to show her father her wedding dress moments before and said he burst into tears.

Elisha's brother Craig, 39, who lives in Australia, received a Facetime call in the car of the family on the way to the wedding to reveal the news.

Susan said: "She knew Craig would have wanted to be there, and would have flown over for the wedding so she decided to FaceTime him in the drive down. He was crying as well.

"I am so happy for them, it was an amazing day and such a lovely surprise. They work so hard and deserve it, they couldn't have done it better."

For their honeymoon the couple jetted off for five days in Milan.

Susan said: "They didn't want people to have to worry about things like wedding gifts. I think it was really kind, they just wanted people to have a good time, and to have friends and family around."