Roman Marrying Mum and Dad

This is where you organise your parents' wedding.

Yes, really. You get to do it all.

That means doing whatever you fancy.

It means doing it however you want.

-Argh!

-The only rule is, keep Mum and Dad out.

-I haven't got the foggiest.

-You go crazy thinking about it.

Are they always this good at keeping secrets?

Make sure they don't know what's in store until their big day.

That's scary.

And there's only a few weeks to sort everything out.

Your dad is very brave.

You're in charge. You decide what happens.

LAUGHTER

-Eurgh!

-LAUGHTER

It's the ultimate challenge. Are you ready for it?

What do you think?

Will the day be filled with chaos...or confetti?

And most importantly, will Mum and Dad like it?

-Whoa!

-LAUGHTER

-I love it!

-We're about to find out. We're Marrying Mum And Dad.

This is Marrying Mum And Dad,

where the kids plan their parents' wedding.

They're responsible for making

one of the most important days of Mum and Dad's life a success.

We're here to help.

Today, a family of wedding planners create a big day like no other.

This one.

Watch out for swords, men in skirts,

and fights to the death...

..while Mum and Dad are left hoping for the best.

-Stay out!

-Don't make me ride a horse to the wedding.

I won't be there if you do.

Mum and Dad know they're getting married,

but they won't know the plans until the big day.

There's two weeks to plan a wedding to beat all weddings.

-We'd better get started.

-Yep.

Today, we're in Northamptonshire,

where a team of wedding planners can't wait to get started.

Meet the Minutillos.

My name's Georgina, I'm the eldest at an age of nine years old.

My name's Nate and I'm the oldest boy.

The best part about Nate is he's always cheeky,

funny and kind of rude sometimes.

Georgina is very kind.

She is a bit bossy, but I love her.

Maddie and Dom are the youngest, but they want their say, too.

They're determined to give Mum and Dad a day they'll never forget.

We've come up with the most massively crazy ideas

Mum and Dad could have never come up with.

The kids live at home with mum Jenny and dad Tony.

Last year, Tony proposed to Jenny.

But like most things he starts, Dad hasn't finished the job.

-Daddy's nickname is Half-a-Job Bob.

-Georgie and co are fed up of waiting.

They want Mum and Dad married more than anything.

And they've got big plans for the big day.

They do nice things for us. We want to do something for them.

It'll be fun to see the expressions on their faces.

With the children in charge,

Mum and Dad aren't allowed to know anything about their wedding plans.

-Stay out!

-We haven't even started and Mum and Dad

are already worried about what's in store.

Mum and Dad are going to feel very nervous.

A large part of me is petrified.

She's looking forward to it,

but so nervous, she wants to scream all the time.

They always look strange when they're nervous.

Come on, relax. It'll be fine, honest.

Actually, we can't guarantee that.

Let's get on with it before Mum and Dad change their minds.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today

to mix things up a bit.

Do you, Mum, allow your children to completely and utterly...

-Yay!

-Not you, not you. Mum!

..to completely and utterly organise a wedding day you will never forget?

I do.

And do you, Dad, accept

that you will have absolutely no say in what goes on?

I do.

I now pronounce you officially, 100 percent in charge.

CHEERING

I think they've taken it quite well.

Georgie, Nate and Maddie have got a feel of weeks, not months,

to arrange everything you need for a wedding.

Naomi and I will help them plan a wedding like no other.

First up, we need a theme.

What sort of ideas have you had?

We've had a Wizard of Oz, which we think was quite good.

What would Mum and Dad be dressed up as?

Well, Daddy, he would be...

-A little elf!

-An elf?

Whatever the kids have got planned, I doubt it's what we have in mind.

Very serious and very old-fashioned, that's how I'd like my wedding.

Her dress would have fairy lights.

No, she doesn't want it.

Cos she told us not to. That's why we're doing it.

'That's the spirit, Georgie!'

-What else?

-We have Horrible Histories.

-Let's have a look at that.

-Gladiators.

They fought a lot, which I really like.

Roman gladiators. Mum and Dad would never guess that.

-We're definitely not short of ideas.

-No.

The wedding's only two weeks away and we haven't decided on a theme.

Nate really wants Romans.

Cos there's bow and arrows, swords, shields.

I like that kind of stuff.

I don't know a thing about Romans.

But the girls aren't sure.

Maybe seeing Roman outfits will persuade them.

So we're heading off to find some.

Yargh! LAUGHTER

-What do you think?

-We're just messing about.

Although I was thinking gladiators, lions, yeah?

Those outfits have nothing to do with the theme.

That wasn't even a lion, that was a tiger.

OK. Raar!

LAUGHTER

-You look quite pretty in that.

-Thanks.

-What do you think?

-Great!

-What about the others?

-Definitely that one.

-Really?

-The gladiator.

-Are we sold on a theme?

-Yeah.

-Yes!

-Roman high-five.

LAUGHTER

So that's a Roman theme sorted, and the outfits.

Dad's going to be a Roman soldier, Mum a Roman empress.

What else would a Roman wedding involve?

The Roman Empire!

Straight roads, columns,

sanitation, ancient music,

grand buildings and...death.

But what about Roman weddings?

How are we going to hold an ancient marriage? And where?

So, Day Two.

Still cold and it's all about the venue.

We've got three to see. It's a lot to fit in.

Waiting for Georgina and Nathaniel to turn up.

We need a venue fit for a Roman celebration, and fast.

We've found three places nearby, but are any of them Roman enough?

The first one doesn't look very ancient to me.

-Morning!

-BOTH: Morning.

-This is the first venue. What do you think?

It's got Rome-like windows.

I suppose they are, actually, yeah.

-The thing I'm most excited about is this piano.

-Oh, no!

I could play your mum down the aisle.

ED PLAYS "CHOPSTICKS"

As she comes down in her wedding dress.

-LAUGHTER

-That is rubbish!

-No.

-I think that would be dead classy.

-What are you thinking?

-Hm...

-We've got another two venues.

Leave the piano alone. Only trained professionals like me can touch that.

Trained professionals?!

This spa hotel might go down better. Romans did have spas, didn't they?

-I suppose you're right.

-Quite a big room, isn't it?

-Wow!

-Look at those!

Yeah. How can we make this place more Roman?

With the floors, we could paint black on the plaster

so it looks like a big hole where the ground has given way

-under the ancient ruins.

-You've got some great ideas.

'But no decision yet, and time's ticking on.'

Do Mum and Dad know what venue they'd like?

When it comes to the venue, please have something nice and relaxed

and nothing too garish.

'Perhaps Venue Three can give us that.' Ta-da!

-Good.

-What are you thinking?

It needs to be big enough for sword fighting.

'So, Mum and Dad want relaxing and Nate wants...sword fighting.

'This could be awkward.'

This is the outside. Obviously. We're not inside.

-This place is perfect.

-You haven't seen it yet.

I know, but it looks perfect.

That's a good sign if you've seen the lobby and think it's perfect.

Eh? What do you think of this?

-Yeah.

-Great.

-I think it would be good.

-This would be where they get married.

I'll show you the rest of it. Everyone can eat out here.

All this art won't be here. We can fit in loads of tables.

-Everyone drinking out of...

-Goblets.

-So we can see this working.

-Yeah.

Now it's the hard part. You've seen all three.

-Which one do you want to go for?

-This one.

-This one.

-We've chosen the venue?

-BOTH:

-Yes.

-Brilliant!

So venue sorted.

Georgie and Nate love it, but will Mum and Dad?

Good job, well done.

-Actually, you two have the same nose.

-Oi!

No, really. You do.

-I'm leaving.

-His is smaller.

'I'm straight on the phone to a designer.

'Someone who can decorate the venue Roman style.'

It's a Roman-themed wedding.

'If we don't get the look right, the big day could be a disaster.'

-OK.

-With Mum and Dad's big day getting closer,

it's time to organise the next bit of this wedding with me.

The entertainment.

Most wedding parties might have a DJ playing old tunes

or a tribute band, but that won't do here.

This is what we need for our Roman wedding.

-Gladiators.

-Gladiators!

Gladiator fighting to the death was top entertainment in Roman times.

Perfect for Mum and Dad's wedding day.

Our wedding planners won't watch the entertainment,

they want to be the entertainment. So time for some rehearsals.

-Grrr!

-Yargh!

Oh, my gosh!

-And the verdict?

-This feels amazing!

-Have you had a good time?

-Yep.

-Are we sold on having sword fighting at the wedding?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, yeah, yeah!

-Another tick on the wedding list.

Mum and Dad will never guess their kids will fight gladiators.

ED LAUGHS

Georgie, Nate and Maddie are doing well.

In just over a week, they've organised things

which would take adults months to sort out.

They've chosen a theme, outfits,

venue and even arranged a cake.

I'll be a Roman theme.

-'Oh, fantastic.'

-A temple cake.

Good progress. But with just over a week to go,

there's still so much to arrange. Like decorating the venue.

We're at the venue to meet a designer who creates sets for TV and film.

She'll bring their Roman ideas to life.

This is Celiese. She is a designer extraordinaire.

She'll make your Roman wedding dreams come true.

-We've got a few ideas, haven't we?

-Yeah.

We just need to make it a bit more Roman-like.

-Maybe...

-Columns.

We could have a couple of columns either side.

And ivy going around.

Yeah. We can do ivy.

What are the other things you had up your sleeve?

We could put a torch on the lights, kind of.

The light shines through, like it's...

Like it's on fire, but it's not.

It's an illusion.

They're on a roll. With the designs agreed,

there's just one more thing Celiese wants to know.

Have you thought about how your parents will arrive?

Horse-pulled chariot.

Whatever you do, don't make me ride a horse to the wedding.

I won't be there if you do.

-Horse-drawn chariot?

-Yes.

-Wow!

'Georgie and Nate seem set on the chariot idea,

'but there could be a problem.'

-I don't like horses.

-Don't you like horses?

No. I went on one once and I didn't like it. It didn't have a seatbelt.

Neither does a horse-drawn chariot.

Mum not liking horses could spell disaster.

Luckily, we've got a plan.

MUSIC: "Who Let The Dogs Out?" by the Baha Men

Daddy's not going to survive.

I may as well say goodbye, have a good run, get over with it.

They can't tell Mum about the horse-drawn chariot,

but they wanted her to practise riding a chariot of sorts,

but without giving the game away.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

LAUGHTER

Go on, boy! Go on!

Come on, Daddy!

Yes! Come on!

-Who's on their way back? Daddy's coming back!

-Come on, Daddy!

Three, two, one, and stop.

Come on, Mum!

Three, two, one.

Let's say it's a draw. That's fair.

They seem happy riding a dog chariot,

but what will Mum do when she sees the horse chariot

her kids have arranged for her wedding?

So, for now, that's the transport sorted.

Hopefully.

Mum and Dad are wondering whether the husky dog chariot racing was a clue.

I hope in some ways it's nothing to do with the theme of the wedding.

But then again, if it's as exciting as that, then bring it on.

You just wait.

24 hours before the wedding, there's still lots to get organised.

Georgie, Nate and Maddie make phone calls out of Mum and Dad's earshot.

-'Hello?'

-Hello.

-Hello.

First up, a call to the set designer to get some last-minute orders in.

'Is there anything else you want?'

Can we have some thrones for Mum and Dad?

Thrones? Brilliant.

Maddie's on the case arranging a Roman feast.

-See you tomorrow.

-'Bye-bye.'

-Bye.

I've asked him to do a hog roast for the wedding tomorrow.

And with that, the final task gets ticked off the list.

Mum and Dad are completely in the dark about their big day.

It's been totally organised by their kids

and adult nerves are kicking in.

I've pinned the children to the floor,

Sellotaped them into their beds,

Velcro'd them to the ceiling

and still they won't tell me anything about the wedding.

That's sort of the whole idea.

You'll find out everything tomorrow.

It won't be what you'd expect. It's not your average wedding.

Over at the wedding venue,

Ed and I have come to make sure the Roman transformation is on track.

Looks the same from the outside.

-Better go and see what's going on inside.

-Yeah.

It's all hands on deck to transform this country house

into a Roman wedding venue in time for tomorrow.

Oh! Amazing!

'Those last-minute thrones have arrived.'

Ed is giving a very manly hand.

ED GRUNTS

Sort of.

The baker is busy finishing off the Roman temple cake.

And edible eyeballs as a surprise for Horrible Histories' fan Nate.

Mum's favourite animals - not - are being prepared

for the Roman chariot transport.

What happens if Mum doesn't get on the chariot?

Are you any good at piggybacks?

And, as the day before comes to a close,

we get to try out those thrones.

-Left a bit.

-Right a bit.

-Right a bit.

Oh, you just can't get the staff!

There's nothing in here. THEY LAUGH

I don't think there's any more we can do tonight.

-They'll finish quicker if we're not around.

-You're probably right.

Fingers crossed it'll look just right in the morning.

Fingers crossed.

Just over two weeks ago, Mum and Dad let Georgie, Nate and Maddie

take control of their wedding day.

CHEERING

The kids decided on a Roman theme.

They've been racing against the clock

to arrange a wedding that should take months to prepare.

I've asked him to do a hog roast for the wedding tomorrow.

Everything's been done in time, but will Mum and Dad like it?

-Who knows?

-I don't like horses!

It'll be a day for the family to remember.

Let's hope it's for all the right reasons.

So, we're finally here. Jenny and Tony's big day.

After all the fighting and the tiger costumes,

and, of course, the venue, it's time for our Roman wedding!

At home, preparations are happening and Mum and Dad still know nothing.

-That's about to change.

-It's looking good.

Mum's getting made up.

-Good morning!

-BOTH: Morning.

-Do you want to come in?

-Yes, please.

'I've got the clothes.

'I'm hoping we've got the outfits they all wanted.'

At the venue, the finishing touches are happening as the cake arrives,

the hog roast Maddie ordered is prepared,

and this empty room has been transformed

into an impressive Roman banquet hall to eat it all in.

Back at home, the wedding planners seem to like THEIR outfits,

but what about Mum and Dad?

It's time to find out what Mum and Dad look like. Shall we call them?

-BOTH: Yeah.

-Down you come.

-What will Mum and Dad say once those blackout glasses are off?

-Amazing!

The Marrying Mum and Dad team have helped them get dressed,

so this is the first time they'll get to see themselves.

Mum and Dad, take off your glasses and have a look at each other.

-LAUGHTER

-You look nice.

They like it!

LAUGHTER

Are you ready to see yourselves?

Yes.

Georgina and Nathaniel, would you like to reveal the mirrors?

-Wow!

-LAUGHTER

-I was going to say, oh, dear, but, oh, wow!

-What do you think?

I didn't imagine this.

'That's one happy Roman mum.'

-Are they tears of joy?

-Yes.

-No, horror!

-SHE LAUGHS

-Thanks, guys.

Thank you, guys.

At least you'd have to wear tights!

So, is this what you guys expected?

Ruthless Romans, I believe.

'Horrible Histories fans. Got it in one.'

-Bye, Mummy. Bye, Daddy.

-We're off to the venue

to get ready for Mum and Dad's arrival.

And at the venue,

the guests have started to arrive, ready to share the family's big day.

And as Mum and Dad arrive nearby...

Halt! '..they still have absolutely no idea what's in store.

'Are they expecting a wedding car?'

I think they'll be amazed when they see what we've prepared.

'I hope so.' Oh!

'It's time for the big question. Will Mum get on the horse-drawn chariot?'

You know how much Jenny loves horses.

-Why did they suggest a chariot?

-I don't know.

-Do you think they've stitched you up a bit?

-Yeah, just a little.

Does that mean she's not going to get on?

Cos the guests are waiting.

Phew! Well done, Mum.

Hang on. How am I going to get there?

-Made it, then.

-Yeah. Just.

-Good.

-How's my hair?

-Beautiful.

'Let the wedding commence!'

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

-Look at her dress!

-# Here comes the bride

# All dressed in white... #

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

-What you think of the horse-drawn chariot, Mum?

-Amazing!

-Yeah.

-Result!

As the guests take their seats,

it's time for the ceremony.

I think Mummy and Daddy really liked that.

-I think it went really well, yeah.

-Except for the horses.

No, I think Mummy liked the horses.

And no Roman wedding is complete without a Roman lyre player.

Nate has the job of carrying the rings.

Whilst the girls escort Mum down the Roman aisle.

We are here to celebrate the marriage of Michael and Jenny.

I, Michael Anthony Minutello,

take you, Jenny Ann Rees, to be my wedded wife.

I, Jenny Ann Rees, take you, Michael Anthony Minutello,

-to be my wedded husband.

-Congratulations!

Overwhelmed with happiness.

And there's still so much more to come.

APPLAUSE

First up, a tour to show Mum and Dad

what Georgie, Nate and Maddie have arranged.

Wow!

And how about the Roman wedding cake?

-Do you like that?

-That's very nice, Georgina.

You're on a cake!

I don't look anything like that.

That's what you'd look like in Roman times.

What you think about your kids' wedding planning?

Amazing. It really is. The whole day has been fantastic.

-What's your favourite part of the dining room?

-The thrones.

They're good, aren't they?

The eyeball cupcakes.

I remember, Georgina, you asked for these.

We could put a torch on the lights.

The light shines through, like it's...

-Like it's on fire, but it's not.

-Yeah. It's an illusion.

THEY GASP

Wow!

That's amazing! It really looks like fire!

Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom!

And now for the very non-standard wedding entertainment.

People of Rome, I give you the gladiator games!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

CHEERING

Aaaarrrggghhh!

CHANTING

CHEERING

It's Georgie and Nate's turn to take centre stage.

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

They've won on the battlefield and the day is a winner, too.

I think it was...

literally amazing!

We defeated Roman soldiers!

That was brilliant!

Next up, the first dance.

There's not a waltz or romantic glide in sight.

We've done our performance, it's time for you to do yours.

MUSIC: "The Hokey Cokey"

# You put your left arm in

# Your left arm out

# In, out, in, out you shake it all about

# You do the hokey cokey and you turn around

# That's what it's all about

Here we go!

# Oh, the hokey cokey

# Oh, the hokey cokey

# Oh, the hokey cokey

# Knees bent, arms stretch Ra! Ra! Ra! #

And collapse!

CHEERING

And finally, it's time for a Roman feast.

And a few words from our wedding planners.

Ladies and gentlemen, raise your glasses to the wedding planners!

ALL: The wedding planners!

On behalf of my brothers and sisters,

I'd like to say that we've really enjoyed planning this wedding

and we've married our favourite people in the entire world

and we hope they have a happy life ahead.

APPLAUSE

Well done. Thank you. Thank you so much.

I think today has been a very great day for Mum and Dad.

The day has been absolutely amazing!

I have completely loved it.

I like what I see. Oh, yes!

It's been absolutely amazing.

I'd say that's been a success.

-Everyone enjoyed the sheep eyeballs.

-Yes.

-The gladiators didn't chop each other's heads off.

-Good.

-All in all, your average wedding.

-Didn't they do well?

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