Christening celebrations turned into wedding joy when the secret Dan Bryars and Lauren Turner had kept for more than six months was revealed.

 

Since last October the couple, of Mount Crescent, Hoyland, secretly planned their wedding but told only their parents and a few close friends.

 

They got their family and friends together on May 5 at St Peter's Church, Hoyland, on the pretext of their daughter Poppy's christening - only to reveal it was a double celebration when Lauren walked up the aisle in her wedding dress.

 

Lauren, 24, said: "The guests thought they were attending Poppy's christening and we told them I was running late as Poppy had been sick on me and when I got to the church, my dad walked me down the aisle.

 

"People were saying things like 'is that all she could find to wear?' and 'why are they playing the wedding march?' and then someone shouted 'They're getting married!' and everyone started clapping and screaming."

 

She added that people were surprised she had managed to keep the secret.

 

"There were a few slaps on the arm as we walked out of the church, people couldn't believe I had done it.

 

"People say I'm gobby so they were amazed I had kept it a secret!

 

"I'm really glad we did it though, it was fantastic."

 

Lauren, an administrator, and Dan, a scaffolder, were particularly pleased that Lauren's grandfather Colin Jones, 71, who died last Saturday, had managed to be part of their special day.

 

Colin, of Manor Way, Hoyland, He was too ill to make it to the church, but as soon as he found out what had happened he met the happy couple at Elsecar Park where they were having photographs taken.

 

Following Lauren and Dan's nuptials, Poppy was christened before the couple and the guests headed to Milton Hall for the evening celebrations.