Newlywed couple distraught after wedding presents and £800 cash are STOLEN at their own ceremony
They say the money would have gone towards their honeymoon which they can no longer afford
A YOUNG couple say their honeymoon plans have been left in tatters after their wedding presents and more than £800 cash was stolen – at their ceremony.
Newly married Chelsea Pearce Smith and her husband Josh, 22, say they now cannot afford to go away with their young children after the cash was taken following their church service.
The young mum-of-two said she ‘doesn’t know who to trust’ after a bag containing all their gifts was ransacked at the reception held in their local church hall.
Speaking exclusively to the Sun Online church going Chelsea, 24, said: “It’s absolutely awful. I just don’t know who to trust.
“We already have things for the home but had asked our friends and family for money to able to go away on honeymoon with the children.”
Chelsea added: “Now that is all in ruins. The kids are so disappointed as they were really looking forward to it. We were going to take them to Butlins and they were so excited.
“We don’t have the money to go now.”
The couple married at their local church in Oldham on February 11 and held their reception in its adjoining hall.
The presents and cards from friends and family were kept close to Chelsea’s dad during the party and then collected into a bag.
But when guests left the hall to wave off the happy couple as they headed off to a night in a hotel Chelsea thinks someone snuck in to take the presents.
Chelsea – who volunteers at the church along with Josh – added: “My friend took the bag of presents home with her to look after them for the night.
“It was only when we went to collect them the next day and we started to look through them that we realised that all the cards had been opened.
“Some were out of their envelopes, some had been stuffed back in but all the money had gone. We think from asking people what they gave us it was about £890.
“A necklace and a bracelet had also been taken.”
The full time mum to daughter Ellie-Mai, six and son Logan, five, now says it has ruined the memories from what should have been the happiest day of her life.
She said: “It has been awful. In the heat of the moment I blamed my friend. I know she didn’t do it but now we have fallen out.
“You start to second guess everything.
“I don’t even want to put up the cards we were sent. It’s horrible thinking someone else had opened them.”
Greater Manchester police confirmed they received a call reporting a theft on February 12.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368