NICE DAY FOR A WALT WEDDING (the bride just Disney know it)
Celebration as family fly to Florida for secret big day
Bank worker Bryan Stewart proposed to girlfriend Nicole Tully – then secretly set up their wedding and got married in under 24 hours.
The 25-year-old launched a fairy tale version of TV show Don’t Tell The Bride on a fortnight’s holiday to Florida.
First, he got down on one knee and proposed to a surprised Nicole in front of Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Her “yes” then triggered a frantic rush to arrange the venue and make sure their family landed in the USA undetected.
Nicole’s mum Tracy even flew in with a wedding dress that she had been tricked into picking on a shopping trip.
Bryan said: “It was a black ops mission. This was a real ‘ don’t tell the bride’ effort.
“Nicole had no clue of the engagement, let alone the wedding.
“I had tipped close f ami l y members off a few weeks beforehand.
“Nicole then went on holiday for a week with the women in her family and I was stressing out the whole time that they might let it slip.
“But fair play to everyone for keeping it a secret. I’d recommend it to anyone – it turns out it’s easy to plan a wedding when the bride doesn’t get a say.”
The couple, from Falkirk, have been together for almost five years.
They wed in Orlando on November 3 and flew back to Scotland last week.
Bryan, an investigations manager for a bank, said: “The idea came to me about six weeks ago. I’d been planning to propose for almost six months.
“Nicole and I had even joked about eloping to marry in Las Vegas.
“She said she would never actually do it because our families wouldn’t be there. It made me think about getting married in Florida.
“Nicole is a Disney fan and I just thought the fairy tale setting of the castle would be amazing for the proposal.
“I asked Nicole’s mum and dad for permission and they were OK with the plan. The rest of our families and Nicole’s best friend were willing to come out at short notice. It all fell into place.
“I found a perfect venue called The Secret Garden, which had everything I knew Nicole would have wanted.” Nicole’s cousin – who is getting married next year – duped her into trying on a wedding dress in a modelling session for her own wedding. Bryan added: “Nicole thought i t wa s hilarious but found a beautiful dress. “Her mum just went in and bought it after she left, then brought it over to Florida.” Bryan and Nicole arrived in Orlando on Wednesday, November 1, and their family and friends flew in the next day. The wedding was booked for 24 hours later. Bryan added: “We went to the Magic Kingdom and I got down on one knee and popped the question. “Thankfully Nicole said yes and we spent the rest of the day celebrating. “As this was happening, both of our families were decorating our villa for Nicole’s even bigger surprise.
“We got back at about 10pm, turned the lights on and everyone jumped out to surprise her. She was shell-shocked.
“Her family and best friend Robyn were there and I told Nicole we were getting married in the morning.
“She burst into tears and gave me a massive hug. It’s been amazing.”
Student nurse Nicole, 24, said: “I’ve always dreamed about getting engaged
in front of Cinderella’s Castle at Walt Disney World.
“As we stood in line to get our photo taken, Bryan went down on one knee and proposed. All I could do was cry tears of joy.
“I was trying to phone my mum but she was saying she was in the shopping centre in Falkirk and couldn’t hear properly. Little did I know she was actually en route to meet us.
“It was dark when Bryan and I got back to our villa. When he turned on the lights, I could see balloons, banners and a buffet. Next thing my whole family and best friend came out of the rooms. I screamed and asked why they were here.
“Bryan showed me a badge that said Just Married – and said we could get married the next day. He said everything was organised like hair, make-up and cars. I started to cry.
“Bryan did so well and I wouldn’t have changed a thing. He organised the most perfect engagement, wedding and honeymoon. I’ve enjoyed every moment and it’s something I’ll never forget.”
Bryan did so well and I wouldn’t change anything