A HOPEFUL bride-to-be booked a surprise wedding without telling the groom – giving him only a month to prepare for the big day.
Sam Duncan, 28, of Ripley, booked her wedding at Shottle Hall, near Belper, before asking her partner, Jon Dawkins to marry her.
She also lined up a photographer, registrar and DJ, as well as approaching a cake-maker, florist and bridal gown shop.
Four weeks before the big day, Sam went down on one knee to propose to Jon. And when he accepted, she presented him with an envelope containing Shottle Hall's brochure and all the booking forms for their wedding on April 27 – two years to the day after the couple's first date.
Jon, 36, said: "I absolutely didn't see it coming, but I'm over the moon. I like to think I'm normally on the ball but Sam's proposal came out of the blue.
"It was absolutely incredible but the best surprise I've ever had.
"Sam can't normally keep anything to herself. I'm staggered she managed to pull this off but it makes it all the more special that she went the extra mile to organise the wedding.
"It's a bit surreal and I think it's still only just starting to sink in. I absolutely love the television programme Don't Tell the Bride and now I know how all those brides feel.
"When Sam proposed she was very emotional and I don't mind admitting we both had a little cry. It was the most perfect moment and I will remember it forever."
Sam kept the wedding booking a secret from everyone but her parents. To make sure their family and friends kept the date free, she invited them to bogus dinner parties and events on the same day.
She has now asked her sisters, Josie, 26, and Katie, 19, to be bridesmaids and Jon has asked his brother, James, to be his best man.
Sam said: "Jon has always liked surprises and I thought that instead of just proposing I would go one step further and take the stress out of it for him, too.
"We had talked about getting married before and I wouldn't have gone as far as paying deposits and making bookings if I hadn't been sure he would say 'yes'.
Sam's proposal almost didn't go to plan. She said: "I was so nervous before asking him and I just wanted everything to be really perfect.
"I had planned to take him to the top of The Chevin, in Belper, which is a really special place for us, and the place where we started to really fall for each other.
"But on the day it was horrible weather and it made me totally stressed. The walk to the top was a bit grim and we kept sliding over in the mud but just as I went down on one knee the sun popped out from behind a cloud and it was perfect.
"I had to give him a minute to let the penny drop and he just looked utterly shocked.
"He was smiling though, so I knew it was going to be okay."
Sam has bought a wedding gown yet but has made an appointment to take her mum and sisters to view a ready-to-wear dress she has already tried on.
Sam said: "I've told Jon that he can pretty much just turn up as long as he sorts the suits for himself, the best man and my dad. But now he knows about the wedding I think he will want to be a more involved and help with things, like favours and playlists."
Before they finalised their wedding plans, Jon had to take Sam shopping for one very important purchase.
"It's the very least I can do, after she went to such a lot of trouble organising everything else," he said.
Shottle Hall's wedding co-ordinator, Sarah Davis, said: "It has been great fun working with Sam on her wedding plans and we have all enjoyed keeping her secret. We are all looking forward to meeting Jon now and seeing Sam's dreams turn into reality."
