Meet England fans who face the World Cup gatecrashing their weddings — and plan to alter speeches and have ‘friendly rivalry’

WHILE most of us will have our eyes guled to the screens at 3pm today, to watch England v Sweden, these couples have a previous appointment their weddings.

But what do you do about the poor guests who are torn between two big matches?

Four couples give Claire Dunwell and Lynsey Clarke their different takes on the World Cup wedding crasher.

Ingela and Kieran

‘It will be fun. There will be some friendly rivalry’

SWEDISH Ingela Hansson, 47, is marrying England fan Kieran McSweeney, 45, at 3pm on Herne Bay Pier, in Kent.

The couple will rush through the ceremony to watch the match with their 35 guests. Civil servant Ingela has nine-year-old son Calle with City worker Kieran.

They have been together for 12 years and live in Whitstable, Kent.

She says: “I’m very excited. I always enjoy the World Cup. I always cheer for Sweden then for England if Sweden has been kicked out. My fiancé is a big England fan but if England were out he would cheer for Sweden.

“I have 15 of my family and friends over and we will be watching the second half just outside the wedding hut on the pier, which we have hired for the reception. We will have Swedish flags everywhere – I’m not sure about England ones as I only care about the Swedish flag.

“Originally we were getting married at 3pm and we were going to have fish and chips at 5pm then another 70 people coming at 6pm.

“But we’re going to speed up the ceremony. As we’re getting a TV put up outside we’ve said to the evening guests that they can join us for the second half of the match and watch it.

“It’s going to be so much fun. There will be some friendly rivalry. We’ve got some guests coming from Denmark and Ireland and they’ve said they are going to root for Sweden too. I’ve been rallying support.

“We got engaged eight and a half years ago after our son was born but finally decided to do it this summer at Christmas. We never thought about the World Cup.

“I’m an analyst and my boss said, “Guess you didn’t put Sweden and England playing at the same time as your wedding in your risk register?” What are the chances?”
Kieran says: “We think it’s destiny because we arranged this months in advance. The stars must be aligned for Sweden and England to be playing each other at the exact time we are getting married. And either way, someone’s going to be happy and we’ll have a good party anyway.”

FROM RUSSIA WITH LIVE All the latest action, news, goals and gossip from the World Cup

Tara and Paul

‘Guests say it’ll be the best wedding ever…if we win’

TARA BACON, 36, is marrying Paul Lochhead, 35, at 1pm.

The pair have borrowed a 65in screen and a gazebo from friends so guests can watch the match out of the sun at the reception.

Tara, a teaching assistant, lives in Cambridge with Paul, a company director, and sons Harrison, five, and Reece, 15.

They will tie the knot in church before their reception at Burloes Hall, Royston, Herts.

Tara says: “We’ve been planning the wedding for three years but there’s no way we couldn’t get behind England.

“I’m surrounded by boys who all love football so it’s a good job I’m laid back and easy going.

“I’m happy to go with the flow as long as everyone enjoys themselves. If that means letting them have 90 minutes of football then it’s no big deal. Although I am hoping the match doesn’t go to extra time.

“We’d planned to have an afternoon tea served at 4.30pm but I’ve spoken to the caterer who will be flexible on timings.

“When we set the date neither of us clicked that it would be in the middle of the World Cup.

“It was only when England won their first match against Tunisia we realised the quarter-final could fall on our wedding day.

“I could put a football ban on the day but I would run the risk of guests checking their phones all day.

“Friends are already saying it’ll be the best wedding ever so imagine if we win the match. There are 96 guests coming to the day reception and all the men like football.

“Paul thinks I’m the best wife-to-be ever for agreeing to show the match. I might even get a mention in his speech, which will definitely be after the final whistle.

“I can’t wait to soak up the atmosphere. Come on England!”
Paul says: “It wouldn’t be the best start to married life if Tara banned the match and what’s 90 minutes when I’m going to be with her for the rest of my life?

“My mates would have never forgiven her if she had banned the match so she has scored wife points already.”

Jo and Andy

‘We decided to change the time of the speeches’

JUST 30 minutes before kick-off, Jo Currant, 43, is set to marry carpet estimator Andy Hodder, 43.

They have had to change the times of the speeches so their 34 guests can enjoy the match.

The couple from Aylesbury, Bucks, have been together for eight years and booked the wedding venue, Bellows Mill in Dunstable, Beds, a year ago.

Merchandising manager Jo says: “I’m very patriotic and most of our guests love football which is why we’ve decided to show the game and change timings.

“It’s only 90 minutes out of the day and we’ll have a TV outside. When the match kicks off we’ll be having photos taken and mingling.

2We sit down to eat around 4pm. The speeches were planned to happen before the wedding breakfast but that won’t work because it would fall in the middle of the match.

“So instead, guests can watch the second half on their phones while we’re eating.

“I don’t have a problem with that – as long as the sound is turned down. I’m sure if England scores, the whole room will know about it.

“We’ll have the speeches before dessert – and if if it goes to extra time, we’ll have them when coffee is being served.

“When we set a date for the wedding a year ago, the World Cup didn’t enter my head. But we’re armchair supporters and wouldn’t miss the England match.

“Even before England got through to the quarter-finals, we received texts from a couple of guests asking if we were planning the day around football.

“If guests don’t show up I will be upset and Andy says they can jog on. But if everyone has a great time, that’s all I care about.

“Come on England, let’s make our wedding one to remember.”

Andy says: “I love that Jo has agreed to show the match.

“A lot of women wouldn’t tolerate sport on their wedding day.

“I get the best of both worlds because I’ll be spending the day with my two loves. Jo, and football. I’m a lucky guy.”

Rachel and Daniel

‘I refuse to let the big game get in the way of my big day’

AT Rachel Thackeray’s civil ceremony, guests are banned from watching the match on iPads.

She is marrying Daniel Urquhart, 38, a print finisher, at 2pm.

Rachel, 34, a railway route controller, lives with Daniel and her son Joshua, 12, from a previous relationship, in Telford, Shropshire.

She says: “It’s not like I hate football, I just don’t want it at my wedding.

“I’ve been planning this day since I proposed to Daniel on the leap year in 2016 and I refuse to let football get in the way.

“I’ve had guests message asking if they can bring along iPads and I’ve said no. I refuse to let them have iPads on the tables.

“We’re getting married in an annexe off the side of a hotel which doesn’t have wifi anyway.

“Our wedding meal is at 4pm but if guests somehow manage to watch the match on their phones there’s not much I can do.

“The World Cup comes around every four years, my wedding day only happens once in a lifetime. I want our guests to enjoy the day without any distractions.

“Daniel isn’t interested in football, so he couldn’t care less either way, but my dad, cousins and maid of honour are the opposite. But they say it’s mine and Daniel’s day, so they’ll miss the match.

“Maybe if today was the final it would be different but, if we win, there are other matches next week – it’s not the last one.

“Besides, if guests watch the match and we lose, it would put a downer on the day.

“Part of me was wishing England wouldn’t beat Colombia on Tuesday to make things easier, but I am really pleased they got through.

“I know I run the risk of guests not turning up and if that happens, I’ll be disappointed and upset but I’ll have to deal with it.

Daniel says: “I’m not bothered about football. I went to my first match two years ago.

“I don’t mind guests checking the score and I know Rachel will also want to know how the team is getting on. I just want people to be respectful.”

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