Heading to the venue, Kayley received the call every bride dreads…
I chewed on my thumbnail as I listened to my boyfriend Kallum, 27, rant about how he hated where he was living.
To me, there seemed an obvious solution.
‘Move in with me?’ I suggested.
We’d been having a long-distance relationship for a few months after I’d met Kallum on a night out in my hometown of Swansea. He lived with his grandma in Portsmouth, but had been visiting friends.
‘Let’s do it,’ he replied, excitedly.
From then on, our relationship went from strength to strength.
We were always talking about our future and keeping an eye out for a house to buy together.
Later that year, we moved in with my parents to try to save up.
Not long after, Kallum surprised me with a weekend in London.
‘We’re going to a drive-in cinema,’ he said.
‘I’ve always wanted to go to one,’ I beamed.
He had booked the film A Star Is Born — our favourite movie.
On the drive there, Kallum seemed nervous, but I couldn’t put my finger on why.
'I've never seen anything like this'
He seemed to relax when the film started, and by the end we were both in floods of tears.
Suddenly, Kallum turned to me, as if to say something, but decided against it.
After the weekend away, we drove back to Wales.
Soon after, we went for a walk.
‘I’ve got something to give you,’ he said, handing me a beautifully decorated wooden box.
Inside was a soundtrack CD from the film, a candle with Wedding Bells on and lots of romantic handwritten notes.
Then Kallum handed me a card that read: Will you marry me?
‘Of course,’ I said, bursting into tears of joy.
‘I wanted to give it to you after the film, but you were too sad,’ he laughed, placing a ring on my finger.
He’d always been so romantic and thoughtful — it was the perfect proposal.
We told my parents and everyone was over the moon.
Giving ourselves two years, I got to work planning the big day.
Kallum was just as involved — coming to all the menu tastings and venue viewings.
Over the years I’d saved up nearly £12,000, which I’d earmarked for a house deposit.
Only the more we talked about the wedding, the more I wanted to make it a day we’d never forget.
‘Let’s use it all!’ I said.
The plan was to save up again after we were married.
Soon, we found our dream venue at Oxwich Bay Hotel in Swansea.
We locked in the date, I picked the dress and asked my best mate Jordie to be maid of honour.
And before we knew it, the big day was upon us.
Kallum and I agreed that we would spend the night before apart, so we could be reunited at the altar.
That day, he drove to the venue with the decorations, and I walked him through how to dress the tables.
He planned to spend the evening with his groomsmen, and I was with the bridal party at a nearby Airbnb.
‘See you tomorrow,’ he said, giving me a kiss goodbye.
‘I’ll be the one in white,’ I joked.
Next morning, I woke at 6.15am when the make-up artist arrived.
Jordie and the girls were already up and had breakfast and mimosas ready to go.
We were sipping on them when Jordie got a call from one of the groomsmen.
‘Everything OK?’ I asked.
‘Fine,’ she smiled.
An hour later, I checked my phone and noticed I had a missed call from Kallum’s mum, so I called her back.
When she answered, she was in tears.
My stomach tied in knots.
‘I’m so sorry, Kayley,’ she cried. ‘Kallum’s gone and I don’t think he’s coming back.’
She told me he’d gone for a drive in the early hours of the morning and hadn’t returned.
Jordie told me she’d heard the same thing from a groomsman, but hadn't said anything, hoping he would come back.
‘Don’t worry, he will,’ I said, feeling oddly calm.
Kallum had always gone for drives to ‘clear his head’.
The girls weren't convinced, but I reassured them as I got into my wedding gown and started to do my hair.
Only, a couple of hours later, Kallum’s dad called.
‘He’s definitely not coming,’ he said.
This time, the words hit me like a ton of bricks.
I hung up the phone and burst into tears.
‘He’s jilted me,’ I stuttered. ‘How could he?’
Through heavy sobs, I told my parents, the hairdresser and videographer that the wedding was off.
Then the videographer suggested something utterly bonkers.
‘Go anyway,’ he said. ‘You’ve spent all this money, and you’re not getting it back.’
At first, I thought it was ridiculous. But then I began to change my mind.
'This doesn't happen in real life'
I was heartbroken, but wallowing wouldn’t cure that. Whereas a party with all my nearest and dearest could be just what I needed.
‘What do you reckon?’ I asked my sister Katie.
‘Go for it,’ she smiled, redoing my smudged mascara.
‘Screw it,’ I shouted. ‘The wedding’s ON!’
We made our way to the venue, where all the guests were waiting.
I saw the registrar waiting outside. She’d been forewarned and looked just as shocked as we all felt.
‘I’ve never seen anything like this,’ she said sympathetically.
The guests weren’t aware the groom was a no-show. So Jordie and Katie went in to tell them there would be no ceremony, but that they could still join us for the reception.
I waited outside, not wanting to see the room decorated for the wedding.
To my surprise and delight, all the guests, apart from Kallum’s family, agreed to come to the reception.
At first, nobody knew what to do, scared to say something that would upset me. But soon they were cheering and hugging me.
Instead of the traditional bride and groom’s entrance, I was joined by the groomsmen and bridesmaids, and we danced along to Lizzo’s Good as Hell on the way to the top table.
Everything was off the cuff, but it seemed to come together.
After we’d had the food, Dad, Katie and Jordie gave a little speech.
I even managed to say a few words.
‘Thank you everyone for staying,’ I spluttered, somehow smiling and crying at the same time.
I still wanted to take photos because everyone looked amazing.
We did a lovely family shoot and I had some taken of just me in the garden.
‘You look so beautiful,’ Jordie gushed.
Later, the music started and I danced with family and friends.
At the end of the night, instead of cutting the cake, the bridesmaids and I punched the top tier off.
It was like an episode of EastEnders.
‘This doesn’t happen in real life,’ I said, still in disbelief.
Even though there were lots of ups and downs, I kept a brave face, especially for my little nieces.
There was a feeling of empowerment throughout the day, and I wanted to show them that bad situations like this don’t define you.
But the next day, when I went home, it sunk in.
My marriage had been snatched away with no explanation.
It was cruel.
Now, almost two months on, I still can’t wrap my head around it. I had no idea Kallum wasn’t going to show.
Marriage is a huge commitment, but I wish he’d spoken
to me about his doubts, saving me all that humiliation.
After the wedding, Jordie set up a GoFundMe page to help me recoup some of the money I’d spent.
In a matter of weeks, I’d made back the full £12k — I couldn’t believe it.
The continued support I’ve had has been incredible, and I’m so thankful.
My wedding may not have been the day I’d envisioned.
For one thing, it was groom-less!
But the funny thing is, it’s still a day I’ll treasure forever.
Kayley Stead, 27, Swansea