A CHARD COUPLE who couldn’t afford to get married won a free ‘wedding’ attended by 1,000 guests in the middle of a busy shopping centre.

Scaffolder David Clarke organised the big day, with a Samba band and dozens of colourful dancer as part of the BBC series Don’t Tell the Bride.

Kelly Clarke, who is recovering from cancer the second time, was delighted with wedding planning skills, although she drew the line at the dress he’d lined up for her.

Somerset County Gazette:

David, 31, who works for a firm in Wellington, where former Bishop Fox’s School student Kelly, 28, grew up, was whisked off for three weeks to plan the occasion in Exeter’s Princesshay.

“When I was driven down to Exeter and got out at the cathedral I thought, ‘My luck’s in’!” said Kelly, who works for Homebase, in Honiton.

But my dad said it was somewhere else and walked me to Princesshay, where there were about 1,000 people, none of them familiar faces.

Somerset County Gazette:

“Then a Samba band appeared with lots of dancers in different colours. It was just like Brazil had come to Exeter.

“After about 15 minutes, the first I heard of David was when I heard a voice say, ‘Why aren’t you wearing my dress?’ “He’d been watching the whole spectacle from the top of a building and ran down to me.”

A friend then carried out a blessing ceremony and everyone started dancing.

Somerset County Gazette:

After the May date, Kelly and David, who live in Chard, were then married for real at Taunton Register Office the following month.

Somerset County Gazette:

“David wanted to make it as big as possible and it was absolutely amazing,” said Kelly.

“He was given £12,000 and had a free rein to put on the day as he wanted to.

“We couldn’t have afforded it ourselves as we’ve got four young children between us.”

You can catch the happy couple’s dream day on BBC3 on Wednesday, October 14.