James and Charlotte Don't Tell the Bride

Hold on to your hats.

This is Don't Tell The Bride.

-What do YOU think?

-You look really nice.

-Do I?

-Only the bravest of brides...

-Oh, I'm really scared.

..would let their groom organise the biggest day of their life...

..alone.

I know she'll love it. But she'll probably kill me.

The grooms get £12,000...

No strippers!

..and the brides get no say in how it's spent.

With a million ways to splash the cash...

I got married on a battleship!

And blacks are Vegas, baby.

..and a million things to organise...

-I don't know what she wants.

-It's well stressing me out.

..can the guys pull it off in just three weeks?

I can't do it.

-And will it be for better...

-THEY SCREAM

-..or for worse?

-After ten minutes, I want to get it off!

-You've ripped the whole family apart!

-Urghh!

This is hell on Earth.

Tonight, we're with ski freak James.

This is like buying a new pair of skis.

For his wedding, he's only got one person in mind.

# Me, me, me, me Me-me-me-me-me. #

He'll thrust his emotional bride, Charlotte...

Very hard, very difficult.

..into the middle of a winter wonderland wedding.

Oh, no!

In July?!

I'm doing it for the penguins, man.

Oh, my God, that's SO embarrassing!

But will he pull off his big idea?

If we don't quite get it right,

it'll look like a Santa's grotto gone wrong.

Will his overconfidence be his undoing?

Say hello to my little friend.

And will he be able to stay focused on the task ahead of him?

-What's your bra size?

-34FF.

That's good. Well done, you. THEY LAUGH

-Can this man give this woman...

-What?

The happiest day of her life?

It's horrible.

What could possibly go wrong?

Today, 22-year-old Charlotte is moving out of the home that she shares with 24-year-old James,

in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

-That's me done.

-Is that you done? Packed? You want a hand?

Yeah? I couldn't make you carry that big bag down by yourself.

-Come here.

-Got to go.

-It's all right.

They met three years ago in a local nightclub.

It wasn't exactly love at first sight.

The impression I got was very, "Oh, hello, I'm Jack the Lad, I can have you, I can bag you."

I was like, I'm not having it.

It was meeting the day after that I was like, actually, I really like him.

Yeah, cos I had you in bed the day after.

As if you just said that.

James's biggest love - after Charlotte - is skiing.

He works as a sales manager for a ski company.

When you're out on a mountain and it's nothing but you, a couple of friends and an entire mountain,

it's just the easiest place to clear my mind.

It's like an expression of how you can be.

So it's no surprise that James wants a wedding that reflects HIS passion.

Originally, I wanted to get married in the mountains with the snow and everything like that.

And the organisation and costs involved can be pretty high,

so I'm going to take in what I wanted and throw a winter theme into the summer.

Almost like a winter wonderland.

Thinking out of the box comes easily to James.

He's a bit of a crazy cat sometimes. Does wild things,

and he's a bit unpredictable.

That is enough! Stop! I'm going to bite your bum so hard!

It HAS to be different and that is James' principle.

And he doesn't care what other people think.

How it's going to look in my head, probably, I would say, eight or nine out of ten maybe.

But the chances of it being like everybody else would want it to be, maybe a lot lower.

In complete contrast, civil servant Charlotte prefers not to stand out from the crowd...

I don't like being centre of attention, and doing something different REALLY highlights you.

..and definitely worries about what other people think.

James - I hate to say it - is probably a bit more self-absorbed and will put his needs first...

whereas I would think about other people before.

What they're both sure of is that they want a big day to remember.

I want people to say, "Wow, that was pretty impressive and I've never been

"or probably will never go to anything quite like that again."

That is what a want - that wow factor.

I almost WANT to cry on my day. I want to be...you know.

-I'll make you cry.

-For the right reason though, please.

-Well, for a reason.

Yeah, you'll cry.

-(Love you...

-I love you too.

-..so much.

-I love you more.)

It's time for James and Charlotte to say goodbye.

I don't want to go.

I don't want you to go, either.

-Love you.

-Love you.

MOUTHS

-More than anything.

-I love you, too.

The next time they see each other will be at the altar.

CHARLOTTE SOBS

Almost didn't seem real, really.

I'm sure it'll sink in at some point, but...

Yeah.

Yeah.

It'll be a fun three weeks, at least.

I'm not quite sure.

I'm almost thinking, I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do tonight.

Yeah. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do tonight.

Which is weird, cos I normally know what I'm going to do.

Fortunately, James won't be on his own for long.

He's got his best man and younger brother, John Scott, to hold his hand.

DOORBELL RINGS

-Hello, mate.

-Hiya, mate. All right?

-How you doing?

-Not bad.

-Good, good.

John Scott is a professional dancer and James is hoping for some creative input.

But first, the more pressing issue of lunch.

-Are you microwaving the sandwich?

-Why's it not working?

-Come on, this is brilliant.

-It's like watching a monkey play with a machine!

-Why's it not working?

Press that button... and then it works.

-JAMES LAUGHS

-I hate you.

I hate you.

It's a good job you're a dancer, cos otherwise you'd probably be a homeless person.

After a brief struggle, it's down to business.

-Probably the two most important things overall is to get the venue sorted...

-Yeah.

-..then get Charlotte's wedding dress. You got any ideas on the wedding dress?

-A white one.

-A white one.

My wedding is extremely important to me. It has to be, you know, beautiful, kind of what you imagine.

-OK, so the idea is we're having a winter theme in summer, right?

-Right.

I don't deal with themes. I can't imagine anything being a good theme.

That would ruin my day, I think.

Fun and games. That's mainly the whole point of the wedding,

-to have all the slopes and bags.

-Bags, yeah.

Ski ramps, ice rinks and try and get some fake snow, as well.

Like, snowmen. Like, fake snowmen.

-Penguins.

-Yeah, get a few penguins walking around.

But first, they have to find a venue to house their penguins.

James's local golf club might not be the obvious choice,

but the golfing green would be the perfect place for a ski ramp or two.

-Hiya.

-Hello. I you'd like to come through, I'll show you upstairs.

-OK.

And if Charlotte doesn't feel like skiing on her big day,

then at least there are plenty of INDOOR games for her to play.

Charlotte's a traditional girl at heart, and is taking her mum to visit Woodland Manor Hotel.

Wow! Oh, it's got a grand entrance.

Oh, it's very pretty.

-Grand staircase.

-Oh, that's really nice.

-That's lovely.

I like it. It's very grand, isn't it? I'm boring, I like things quite traditional.

Well if trad is her thing, then how about some traditional pub decor?

-This is the wedding breakfast room.

-OK.

-OK.

-And then through here, on the left, is the ceremony room.

You won't get many penguins in there!

Without sounding...too abrupt...

-..I don't think it's going to work.

-No.

So this is the main room.

-This is really nice.

-This is gorgeous. I really, really like this. It's very pretty.

I love that chandelier.

I think if we're just having family for the day and close friends, I think this is the right setting.

It's nice.

And it is very intimate.

James's next venue is anything but intimate.

The converted barns of Chilford Hall would give him almost 500 square metres to play with.

Hi, I'm James.

This is our gallery. This would be your reception entrance area.

-This is a stunning room. At the moment I've put the spots on so you can see.

-OK.

But this is totally candlelit. It's a very, very dreamy, dreamy room.

Well, if antique tools and taxidermy are Charlotte's thing, then this could be her dream venue.

-Oh, wow. That's lovely.

-Ahh, lovely grounds.

-That is lovely.

Oh, no, this is gorgeous.

-You could decorate outside, couldn't you?

-You can do absolutely anything.

-We've had lanterns all the way up the drive before, which looks absolutely lovely.

-That's what I want!

-Is James romantic?

-No, he is. He is, but he just sees them as a waste of space.

-He'd probably run over them.

-So he isn't, really!

He doesn't see that as a key component to your day.

-Let's try and get a fake ice rink.

-Great.

-Even like a ski jump into a big inflatable bag.

-Great.

-And maybe, like, a winter-style bouncy castle.

-Great.

-Something like that.

Before he gets too carried away, his best man remembers that it's not all about James.

-Is it effeminate enough for the likes of Charlotte?

-I think she'll absolutely love it.

I think it'll exceed her expectations. She won't expect anything like this.

So James seals the deal, spending four grand on...well,

an empty barn.

He'll have to add the snow later.

For James to pull off his ambitious winter theme,

something'll have to give - his bridesmaids' dresses.

He's getting a family friend to make them.

Haven't seen you for ages, either. Come on in.

The idea, I suppose, for us today is we really want to choose the colours and the material.

-So are the girls going to do the design or...?

-No.

-You're doing it.

-Yeah.

-OK.

-JAMES LAUGHS

-Great.

Yeah, that's what I thought.

-The colours I've decided to be the main two colours... We'd like a glacier blue...

-Yep.

-..and like an alpine green?

-You won't find fabric that's called alpine green and glacier blue.

-No.

-What do you think of that one, John?

-Yeah.

-OK.

-OK. So that kind of blue might be good.

That's quite nice.

And what detail does every ice maiden's dress need?

Here you go.

Of course! Snowflake sequins!

That in white would be cool.

Now they've chosen their wintry colour scheme,

it's time for the boys to get in touch with their feminine side.

Let me draw a little stick lady.

-Ah. Tatty Bojangles.

-Yeah.

Ooh, he's a right little Picasso!

-OK, so I'm thinking...

-Looks like Charlotte.

Does it? Is that Charlotte, is it?

That's how Charlotte looks at the moment.

So it's one long, one-piece dress, if you like,

that loops round the back, keeps the back open and so it...

-I'm just glad that I'm designing this dress.

-Yeah?

We could almost have, like, small snowflake sequins

-like that.

-Yeah, we'll see how that looks.

-Let's see how you get on.

Cos it could absolutely ruin the dress.

Yes, John Scott. It's the sequins that are going to ruin this dress.

-Are you nervous that we're doing this?

-Yeah, I suppose I am a little bit

because none of us have ever designed a dress before.

-What do you think about this?

-Oh, wow.

-It almost looks a bit like my drawing.

-You joking?

You had the proper model. I had to draw my own model to start the dress.

-That was your problem?

-Yeah.

-Oh, I can see the shading's quite similar.

-Yeah. Look.

See? Now it's like bang on the same.

JAMES LAUGHS

I'll keep drawing.

Now the masterpiece is complete, it's time to get his bridesmaids' vital statistics.

I need your measurements. Do you know them?

-What sort of measurements will I need? Is that it?

-Chest, waist, back.

-Chest, waist.

-Shoulders, neck.

-Yeah. Shoulders and neck?!

Hip to knee, hip to ankle.

Hip to ankle, hip to knee. No, we're not making a suit!

I just need your dress size, really.

All right, cheers. Bye. Bye-bye.

-Right. I don't know if she looks like egg on legs.

-Egg on legs!

Do you know what I mean?

I don't know if she's got the dumpiest body and then the longest limbs and still be only 5"3'.

-Yeah, I don't know that, either.

-That's why you go...

-Well, I do, she's not an egg on legs.

-.."Ankle to hip, why do you need that?"

Yeah.

Whey!

Don't forget he's younger than you, James!

James trained as a footballer until he was 16.

His family supported him all the way.

I like that. Impressive.

He always wanted marriage and children. It was always going to be right for James.

You two are too big to play in the garden now. I think you need to go down the park!

I remember when he was 17 and he actually said to you,

'"I've had a wonderful childhood, I've had wonderful parents,'

"I want all of that and more."

Yeah, I think he liked the idea of the family life that we've had.

And that's something that spurs him on.

For Charlotte, family life has different connotations.

Before, I was a bit sceptical.

The whole idea of marriage was just a concept. It was never going to be put into play for me,

just because my mum and dad didn't have a particularly great relationship

and that ended in a divorce and from then

I just never wanted to become dependant on having someone there.

But I miss him so much, it's unreal.

You know, he is my absolute world.

It's very hard, it's very difficult.

While Charlotte is struggling, two days in and James is just hitting his stride.

Time to showcase his artistic flair again.

..ten. OK.

-Wow. You are...somethin' else!

-Genius.

And though he's only sorted a table plan, a venue and some dresses, he thinks he's got it in the bag.

I don't get it. I don't get why women fuss so much about weddings.

We've got a wedding, we've got a guest list, we've got some bridesmaids.

Er...and all we need is to sort the bride out.

Then we've pretty much got it. I don't get the big hoo-ha.

What could possibly go wrong?

With a venue the size of a small aircraft hangar to decorate,

the boys head to London in search of some wintry props.

Please can we have this rocket?

-Why do you want a rocket?

-Well, why not?

What do you mean, "Why not?"? I don't know...

Winter-theme wedding, and you want a rocket.

Oh my...

Look at the size of that penguin!

It's like a posh penguin. It's a wedding penguin!

I just love penguins. I think they're cool.

If I was going to be anything but me, I'd be a penguin.

Is that because you have to sit on an egg and look after the kids while the woman does all the work?

No. It's cos I get to swim and flap around and look cool.

And they always look happy.

Cos what they got to worry about?

Got to swim, catch a bit of fish, chill out...

do another penguin.

-Mate with one person, that's it.

-Well...

-Have you not seen Happy Feet?

I'm getting married? I'm kind of doing that anyway!

It's time to get serious. Or at least as serious as these two get.

-We definitely need trees.

-That's not a problem.

-Snow-covered trees.

-Two large penguins.

-Yep.

And the small, little couple penguins. The two little, tiny ones.

OK.

-Tiny little baby penguins.

-Like the little penguins.

Do you want a costume for your brother to dress up so he can give the rings?

-What costumes you got?

-We've got polar bear costumes, penguin costumes...

-Can I try the penguin on? Can we see the penguin and the polar bear?

-Yeah.

Then we can do penguin versus polar bear, take one.

I will take you down.

I'm doing it for the penguins, man.

Oh, it's on! It's all on!

James has only allocated £500 for props.

Three penguins, a couple of plastic Christmas trees and two animal costumes...

Penguin power!

..don't exactly make a winter wonderland.

Pause. I've lost my head.

Yes, mate, you have.

Back home, and James is reflecting on his first week's achievements.

Venue, done. Dress, to do.

Hen party... Oh, I've got to do the hen party. Oh, no.

So, only two weeks to go. One down, two to go, until I get married

and I find out if I've planned a good wedding or a disastrous wedding.

Charlotte, on the other hand, is trying not to think about disastrous weddings.

She's having a day out in Cambridge with her mum,

her future mother-in-law, Theresa, and James's sister Sam.

It's official. You are actually, instead of just my "mummy", now you're mummy-in-law.

Mummy two.

-It's like gaining a daughter.

-That I never had.

Ooh!

I love Samantha more cos Samantha's got lovely long, blonde hair and you've got dark hair.

This is getting personal now!

-I love you more cos you've got lovely long, dark hair and Samantha's got blonde hair.

-Balance it.

Mummy rivalry now.

I'm really glad that you've met someone that you really love.

It's a bonus that James has got a really nice family, as well.

-Hopefully we're going to be together till death us do part, as well, Valerie, eh?

-That's it!

Great. This is going to be fantastic, this is.

-Maybe we should take some vows at the same time!

-Yeah, shall we?

-To be together forever.

-Do you really want to do that?

-Yeah!

-Yeah, we do.

-Gosh!

But once the conversation turns to the wedding, even mother Theresa has no faith.

-What do you think of James' colour coordination?

-It's not very good, is it?

-No.

I've always worried he's been colour-blind.

God!

Yeah, but I like his nice, bright colours.

-He does need dressing, doesn't he?

-He does.

If it was me, I wouldn't be happy with him choosing what I was wearing.

You're SO the vote of confidence.

I think the most important thing you'll get out of it is just how much he loves you.

Because everything he's done, he's done for you. Hasn't he?

I mean, if it's really, really pants, remember he does still love you.

But everything he's doing, he is doing it for you.

You're going to make ME cry!

Napkin?

A spotty napkin!

Ready, Charlotte? POP

A toast to my gorgeous family-to-be!

ALL: Cheers!

-That's for the wedding.

-I need it.

With the help of best mate Andy, James is about to prove that

he CAN pick the all-important dress.

Do you have any particular ideas?

-I don't know. I think it's best we have a look at some and then I can get more of an idea in my head.

-OK.

If Charlotte gets an idea in her head, she won't be able to act on it,

but that doesn't stop her shopping with Mum and chief bridesmaid Kat.

Bridal dresses are here.

-Oh, wow.

-And if you find something you like, you can pop it on.

-Super, thank you.

The dress is SO important.

It's really crucial that he gets that right, cos I will just feel SO uncomfortable during the day

if that's not right.

I'd get really insecure and I won't be feeling like I could mingle with others

if I'm not feeling right, so... if he just gets that bang on, I'll be so happy.

There's these, which are very, very Grecian.

That's kind of the style.

Yeah, I want to try some Grecian and then go for some kind of variation. I just want to see.

I'm only 5"2'. I'm tiny! I'm quite petite, so I think my height is a massive thing.

I can't wear big dresses.

James is also thinking about his bride's vital statistics...

just not necessarily her height.

I like that. Without sounding too rude or forward,

-what's your boob size?

-Eh?!

-32C.

-I'd normally get my brother to ask that!

-It's the first of many.

-I can imagine Charlotte in it, yeah.

This is not going to be easy. I'm going to have to write this down.

This is like buying a new pair of skis!

-See, I like everything except the high collar.

-Exactly what I was about to say!

It's cos, on you, that collar thing looks quite nice, because you've got quite a long neck.

In a good way.

Not like an Ethiopian way.

You're digging yourself deeper!

-I reckon two grand.

-I'm going to say £900.

560.

-£560?!

-Yep.

That's the one!

This is why you should ask the price first!

That's my biggest problem. I don't know if Charlotte would really want something that...

really, REALLY stands out

or something that she just looks very, very beautiful in and feels very comfortable.

Unlike most brides, Charlotte HATES to be the centre of attention.

The secret of HER ideal dress is simplicity.

-It's very pretty. I'd be happy if he got me something like this.

-It's gorgeous.

This is pretty, cos I could have my hair tousled and a flower.

You look very slim, Charlotte.

I do like this, though.

-I love that, with your hair on the side.

-Yeah, I do like it.

This is me. This is something I think he would pick, cos this is me. I always go for very simple.

-Good afternoon.

-Good afternoon.

"Very simple" is not in James's vocabulary.

I do like it.

Still, at least he realises that this model has different physical attributes to his bride.

I've just got to imagine Charlotte in it,

cos her boobs aren't that big.

LAUGHTER

Could I ask a particularly rude question, as well? What's your bra size?

34FF.

34FF? BLEEP.

Somebody say something.

We don't need any dress to make them look big!

Not that.

That's... That's good.

Well done, you.

Well done.

Could you rent them out?

LAUGHTER

You're not the first person I've asked that question to today.

But you are winning!

That's a very nice dress.

The last one was a very nice dress.

Is there such thing as a best-selling wedding dress?

Have I chosen one of the best-selling wedding dresses or not? No.

I wanted this to be quick. It's not going to be quick.

I've just got a feeling that he might pick something

-that's more meringue-y and it might look...

-I don't think he would at all because...

Charlotte doesn't wear meringue things, ever.

She would never even dream of putting something on like that.

That's the one thing. I am quite optimistic from that sense

that I do think James will get the dress right.

Something along the lines of floaty.

I will be so surprised if he pulls out something that's very meringue-like,

and very big and bouffant. He knows it would look ridiculous.

Unfortunately for Charlotte,

big and meringue-like are exactly what James is thinking of.

How else will his Snow White hold her own among the penguins?

I really like that as well.

It even has ruffles the size of ice floes.

The boys are getting colder.

Is it just me, or does it look the closest to a winter theme that we've seen?

SLEIGH BELLS

Could you lift it up and turn sideways?

Yeah, that's it. And just lift your arm up a touch.

Yeah, that's the bit everybody's going to be looking at(!)

I think that's my favourite dress.

I just think it looks better.

I love that dress.

Have you got a gut instinct?

I don't know why. Yeah.

I just know that's going to be the most expensive, but I think that's it.

-I'm almost getting a bit emotional.

-Oh, lovely!

-What's that called?

-This is called Belle.

Belle, right.

-Don't ask about the price!

-Shut up!

-It's got an E on the end.

Yeah, Belle as in French, yeah. Which means beautiful, which is even nicer.

Which is weird.

So after eight hours of dress shopping, it's a done deal.

No, that's it. That's it. I'm done.

-High five!

-Yes!

That's another £950 gone.

His budget's evaporating before he's bought a single flake of snow.

With one week till the wedding,

James has organised a surprise hen day for Charlotte and her two sisters.

Ooh! What's this?

"You're about to be pampered, chauffeur-style. Enjoy your session."

Oh, I love James.

Ooh, I miss him so much.

One week to go.

THEY LAUGH

Oh, darling, you'll be all right. It's only one week.

Come on, it's exciting.

Maybe going to get our nails done, or a facial.

-Spa treatment.

-But what does he mean by "chauffeur-style"?

Er...

In James's world, chauffeur-style means this.

Oh, no. It's not, is it?

Oh, my God! Charlotte, what are we doing?

-"4x4 military motocross quads."

-Surely he's winding us up.

Rally karts. Are you joking?

I was really looking forward to a spa!

Instead of a day of pampering,

James is sending the girls off-roading.

-Oh, my God.

-This is scary. It's like man-fest. I'm going to get eaten.

Oh, my God. Look at all these men!

-This is so him, to do something like that.

-This is far from being pampered, Charlotte.

How bloody mean! How mean!

BIKES ROAR

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I'm nervous. All I can hear is that noise.

I'm thinking that my wedding day's going to be very out there.

Something I can't even think of, cos I never, ever would have imagined I was driving a 4x4 on my hen night.

-INSTRUCTOR:

-You may need to adjust the seat...

-I'm really nervous.

# Born to be wild

# Born to be wild... #

Go on, Charlotte.

THEY SCREAM

Just keep it going.

Oh, my word!

Charlotte, Charlotte, the tree!

That's all right.

Let's hope the wedding is a bit less of a car crash.

Back at James's parents' house, his stag do is under way.

It's traditionally a time when men can be men, and talk is cheap.

But the stag's having trouble shaking off his mum.

I'm covering your eyes because it's a surprise!

-Mum, can you go away, though?

-No, no...

-No, can you go away?

-Andy, can you cover his eyes?

-All right. Come here.

John Scott has made sure his brother will be looking his best this evening.

Go on, open your eyes, mate. See what you've got.

THEY LAUGH

Today's my number one son's stag weekend.

It's a very surreal feeling. I feel a little bit emotional at the moment.

Pull it up, boys.

Mum... Get away!

I'm trying to pin you, so it fits.

Oi, make sure my dad doesn't try and BLEEP me later cos I look like my mum.

'They've dressed him all in pink.'

He looks very pretty. Always did look pretty in pink.

Oh, there we go!

You could pin it on. Shall we pin it on?

Are you still here?

Why are you still here?

THEY LAUGH There you go.

The night is under way, and James has finally shaken off his mum.

THEY CHEER

On Charlotte's hen night,

things are hotting up, too.

Not so shy now, is she?

Work it, baby!

Ooh, truth or dare! Dare you take the challenge?

No!

Hot!

James, on the other hand, is starting to flag.

Yeah. I'm having a good night, man.

Which is good.

I got a bit of mileage in me left. Yeah.

GATE CLANGS

BLEEP gate.

If I give her a message now, it would be,

"I wish you were my stripper later on."

But I don't know what the boys have got planned. Hopefully not too much bad stuff.

Come with me.

THEY CHEER

Just take this off.

-This is Mum's wedding dress, by the way.

-Is it?

My mum's wedding dress?!

The dress certainly seems to bring back memories for James's dad.

-Oh, hello, James!

-Hello, darling.

-You remember me?

-It's been a while!

-25 years ago, darling.

-How many? How many? 25?

-25!

-Yes, I do, yeah.

What a proud moment for the father(!)

THEY SING THE CANCAN

HE GROANS

It's the morning after the night before.

My mouth feels like the back of a donkey.

I'm feeling pretty, er...weak at the moment.

But I've got a lot to do. Yeah.

So I'm a bit conscious about that.

But yeah, I'm sure nothing's going to get done today!

The closer the day gets, the more nervous Charlotte becomes.

Her mum and gran aren't helping matters.

Mind you, walking down the aisle is the hardest bit.

It seems never-ending, doesn't it?

I'm going to speed it up. I'm going to run.

You think I'm joking? I'm hitching up my dress!

My favourite part was walking down the aisle. I loved it.

"Ooh, everyone's looking at me!" I absolutely loved it.

-You'll love it.

-No, I'm fearing that most.

When you get to the venue, the church, wherever it is,

hall, whatever James has arranged. Barge, boat, wherever,

you'll love it.

If Charlotte can't even bear the thought of walking up the aisle,

how is she going to take James's next surprise?

Just waiting for Charlotte to turn up,

because I'm going to teach her part of the first dance between her and James.

And it's going to be hard to teach her, because she's not allowed to hear the music.

John Scott has been dancing since he was 12, and has toured professionally all over Europe.

He's hoping he can give Charlotte the confidence to take centre stage for the first dance.

Oh, my God!

Oh, my God, that's so embarrassing!

Oh... No! Are you teaching me to dance?

John Sc... Oh, my word.

That's so... I can't dance with you.

I can't dance with you, I've got two left feet!

I'm going to kill you!

-SHE SLAPS HIM

-Don't slap me!

What are we doing? What is this for?

It's erm... We're doing a Saturday Night Fever number.

-For?

-So...dun, dun, dun, dun...

Like proper...der, der, der.

-He'll offer you like that, and he'll put your hands on my hands.

-OK.

-And then put your hand on his shoulder.

-Oh, my God.

And then it's... Step. It's so easy.

OK.

For John Scott, it's just another day at the office.

Just follow what I'm doing!

But for self-conscious Charlotte, it's her worst nightmare.

# I don't feel like dancin'... #

Really easy. Stay there!

# ..dancin', dancin'... #

That's so mean!

That's so in his nature, in his family, to do something.

They're full of confidence, they'd love doing something like this. It's a step too far for me.

Kneel out, kneel out.

'This is what I mean by unpredictable, I'm dreading my day.'

As if James needed to freak out his bride any more!

..seven, eight.

It's not the only risk that James is taking.

He's about to unveil his winter collection

to his summer bridesmaids.

All right, Linda? All right, Lou?

If you don't like the dress, it's irrelevant, cos they're being made now.

Bear in mind that you're having a custom-made dress.

You're not going to get that too often, so bear that in mind.

There we are.

THEY GIGGLE

It's not quite black PVC.

-I wasn't expecting you to choose that colour, it's quite bold!

-I like that colour.

-It's really bright!

-I was not expecting that at all.

-I wasn't expecting that.

I'm not too sure. I have to see what it looks like on.

This one's yours, so you can try it on.

-Wicked.

-So I can see roughly what it looks like.

I think they'll be pleasantly surprised, because it'll be fitted to them.

I don't think they appreciate how much a dress fitting means.

# Ice, ice, baby... #

Of course they will(!)

I think there's too much material. Yeah.

-I suppose it's part of the...

-Dress.

-..fitting process as well.

The design concept is there, so the fitting process will just change some of those bits and bobs.

What do you think?

-Er...

-SHE LAUGHS

SHE MOUTHS

THEY LAUGH

-With words!

-I like it... I know, I'm so sorry!

I don't know what to say.

There's just...

I don't know what it is, it's just something.

Maybe needs another ruffle or two?

Or some snowflake sequins?

-Bear in mind...

-What does everyone else think?

It's their first insight into James' theme.

And it's stunned them into silence.

With only four days to go, the bride herself finally gets her first clue about what James has been planning.

Eee, I've got it!

Oh, I'm so excited! I can read it through!

Oh, that's interesting!

-That's different!

-What?!

-What?

-Why's it like skiing?

LAUGHTER

"Please find enclosed your wedding invitation pass for our wedding."

It's a ski... Oh, my word! What has he done?!

It could be like a ski theme or something!

It'll be like, "Put your skis on!" Up the aisle!

There isn't a chance you would have ever chosen a theme like that.

I think that's a dummy. I think that's too obvious. That's what I think James would do.

But that's no decoy.

130 miles away in Gloucestershire,

James has found Snow Business.

And finally, some snow.

Is it really July?

# And since we've no place to go

# Let it snow, let it snow let it snow... #

This is awesome, I wish I could make my back garden look like this all the time.

Or my house. I'm not sure how Charlotte would feel about that.

It's like...tissue paper, almost.

This snow is made of paper, and featured in the film The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

Now, as if James didn't feel like all his Christmases had come at once...

In the little tent we've got in the meadow, this is the stuff you saw there.

It's just a plastic-based snow, but my favourite snow is this...

-OK.

-..which, all we have to do to reconstitute it,

is add water and, hey presto...

Oh, no way! HE LAUGHS

No way! I just thought that was all going to pour everywhere.

With one snow cannon costing around £900,

James is starting to realise that the 2,000 he has left

isn't going to go far.

I'm thinking, "I wish I had more money left."

I almost wish I could go back in time, and rent a piece of land,

have an outside wedding and just make it look like this.

If I'd seen you in the first week, I'd have probably spent a BLEEP load of money here!

THEY LAUGH

I'd love to go back to the wedding-dress shop and just go, "Actually, it IS about price."

-I'm sure she'd rather have a nice dress than snow.

-Yeah, but probably the opposite for me.

The opposite for me.

Martin!

HISSING

I love that, that's so good.

-A couple of those in the room, perhaps.

-Yeah.

He can't afford to cover his venue with snow,

so maybe a couple of snowmen will do.

It's the day before the wedding,

and the petite bride is about to come face-to-face

with her big fat frock.

My biggest fear is that my dress is massive and I get lost in the dress,

and that it's too busy and there's too much going on.

Will Charlotte, the shrinking violet, be able to handle the limelight in her look-at-me dress?

This is it, Charlotte, the moment.

-OK.

-Would you like me to open the bag?

-Yes, please.

The suspense is unbearable!

It just seems really strange. It seems like one minute,

she was a baby, and now, she's like a woman,

just about to get married.

It's just hard to believe, really, can't take it in!

SHE SOBS

SHE LAUGHS

-Getting emotional!

-Awww.

Oh, dear!

And that's before I've seen her in the dress!

Oh, my God!

Oh, bless him!

Is it a long trail, as well? That's SO not what I would have picked!

This is big.

You look like a princess.

Oh, my word! It's massive! It is MASSIVE.

-It's really big!

-But it's lovely!

He's gone for so much detail, hasn't he? With the sash,

the embroidery at the bottom, this is a proper wedding dress.

I knew he would! I knew.

This is just like the complete opposite to what I would have gone for, it's just very princessy.

-Very princessy.

-It's beautiful.

This is like... I can't believe it, I'm so shocked!

-I'm the centre of attention in this, definitely.

-Everyone's going to be looking at you.

He obviously wants his bride, doesn't he? James wants a bride.

I just hope everything matches now.

With like the pewter, and it all ties in.

I'm just thinking of everything now, the whole outfit.

Oh, Charlotte!

It's weird, cos it's settling in. It's really real now.

I just want to see him.

The morning of the wedding, and it's shaping up to be one of the hottest days of the year.

At Chilford Hall, James is trying his hardest

to transform this huge venue into the winter wonderland he's always wanted.

How many of these have we got? Wow!

-We've got about three of these.

-OK.

At least he has his special snowman...

even if it's not working properly yet.

WHOOSHING

At James' parents' house,

the bride is still blissfully unaware of what lies ahead.

# Happy wedding day to you

# Happy wedding day to you

# Happy wedding day, dear Charlotte

# Happy wedding day to you

Are you having it up at all?

Yeah, to the side,

-and clipped...

-All the girls at uni wear their hair like that.

While the girls are getting ready...

James' first delivery of the day will surely give the game away.

-Char?

-Yeah?

-James has ordered a little surprise for you,

I think you might want to stand up for this one.

THEY SHOUT

Oh, no! I look like a pineapple!

THEY SCREAM

A ski boot! Oh, is that my bouquet?

Is that my bouquet?

Who are you?

THEY LAUGH

It's John Scott. Do you like my hair?

I'm sure it is John Scott!

He didn't even give me his decent ski boot! They're like last season's.

Oh!

Watch the hair!

Bye! Please don't tell him, I'm not going like this!

I was like, "Hello, Pingu!" What's the Pingu about?

Winter! I've just got it!

Very clever. Not falling for it.

-Decoy, decoy, decoy! Too obvious.

-Massive hint.

-No, it's too...

He's going to drop it soon. I'm not convinced. It's too obvious! No!

-D'you not reckon there'll be anything...

-No, that's way too obvious, he's not like that.

Actually, James is that obvious.

-# Sleigh bells ring

-Sleigh bells ring

-# Are you listening?

-Are you listening?

-# In the lane

-In the lane

-# Snow is glistening

-Snow is glistening

# A beautiful sight

# We're happy tonight

# Walking in a winter wonderland

# Walking in a winter wonderland. #

Say hello to my little friend! HE CHUCKLES

Back in the bride's camp, and Charlotte is still in denial.

Surely that will change once she sees her groom's bespoke ice-maiden dresses.

Hello!

-SHE LAUGHS

-Oh, my God! You're all in BLUE!

THEY LAUGH

But you all look beautiful, you do look beautiful.

Do you like the colour and the dresses?

Obviously colour is not what, personally, I would have...

I love those!

-Charlotte, check out what we've got in the centrepiece of our dress.

-Silver?

No, come closer.

Oh, hello.

-It's winter-themed!

-Definitely, now!

The penny has finally dropped.

Oh, crikey! That's why you're in ice blue.

And I'm in silver.

What the heck am I doing?

Just to make matters worse, I'm flapping already, without knowing...

Can't even get my words out.

Hi, Stephen, how are you doing?

At the venue, it's 26 degrees, and things aren't looking very wintery.

And Snow White isn't feeling particularly princessy.

-What don't you like? What can I do?

-Nothing, it's just not me, really.

You don't like your hair? Your hair can be changed.

I can change your hair.

Tell me what you want and I can do it for you.

I know, but we don't have time.

I'll do my make-up...

If we're half an hour late, we're half an hour late. You're the most important person on the day.

-What do you want done to your hair?

-I don't know what I'd want.

-Do you want it down and curly?

-I want it down.

Put it down and curly. Clip up the sides and put your flowers in.

If I don't feel like me, it will bother me all day,

and that's just one thing I'm not happy.

I want to feel comfortable. I feel really rushed, and I hate feeling rushed.

I don't want to come across as a diva, cos you see that all the time.

We're not in that much of a rush, you are the most important person.

Am I meant to be done now?

-Yes.

-(Oh, sugar!)

-Listen! Take a couple of deep breaths.

-I can't believe I'm meant to be in my dress now.

-John, can you open the champagne

and bring Charlotte half a glass?

She may be 45 minutes late, but her do is finally done.

It's time to get the dress on.

-Only certain people can pull that dress off, Charlotte.

-It is absolutely gorgeous.

-I don't think you could have got any better.

-No. No, no, no!

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry!

Hold it back, hold it back!

I've just come to say how much I love you.

Aw, Mummy!

-And I'll see you at the venue. And you look beautiful!

-Thank you!

THEY GASP

-ALL:

-Awww!

I have a vintage car! Oh!

I actually love that, and it's silver!

He's got the colour right as well.

Oh, how cute! I love that car!

An hour behind schedule, and with her brother by her side,

Snow White is finally on her way to her fairy-tale ending.

-I'm really happy now.

-Good.

-I'm so excited to see what it is, though!

Cos it's winter-themed, and I can't imagine...

That's the thing, your emotions and stuff, when you see him...

-I don't want to! I've cried enough, I've cried enough!

-Yes.

We've discussed this, no more crying.

"Morning, princess."

Don't cry.

Ooh, don't cry.

-I can't read it.

-Don't... All right!

Ah, go on, then!

It's OK.

-What?!

-Another wedding?

-Who's that?

-No... Would that be your bridesmaids?

-What? What?!

-Wow!

SHOUTING

A horse and cart! With tinsel!

It's like a Christmas-themed wedding!

-There's no, like, doubt about that. He's gone winter.

-Yeah.

This is absolutely bonkers.

-It's so different.

-This is what he wants.

-It's a bit surreal, though.

If you think that's surreal...

Look! What is that?!

Oh, the penguin!

Oh! Pingu!

Who is it?

APPLAUSE

This is wicked!

I love it! I'm going to go in and be...

-You look beautiful!

-Thank you!

This is so James. This is SO James.

Why did I not see this? I was like, "Decoy!"

Now, James, could you please take Charlotte's ring from the cushion?

Place it on her finger,

and whilst holding it there, repeat after me.

I give you this ring with my love.

I give you this ring with my love.

As a sign of our marriage.

As a sign of our marriage.

All that I am, I give to you.

All that I am, I give to you.

And all that I have, I share with you.

And all that I have, I share with you.

Now, Charlotte, if you could please take James' ring from the cushion.

And again, repeat after me.

I give you this ring with my love.

I give you this ring with my love.

As a sign of our marriage.

As a sign of our marriage.

And everlasting love for each other.

And everlasting love for each other.

Once in a lifetime, you discover someone who stands beside you,

and not over you.

Once in a lifetime, you find someone, as you have found each other.

It's now my very great privilege and pleasure

to say that you are now husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.

# It's something unpredictable that in the end is right

# I hope you had the time of your life... #

CHEERING

I am the luckiest bride in the world! Absolutely on top of the world.

I am ecstatic. I can't explain it. I'm just... This is all I've waited for and all I've ever dreamed of,

and it's stemmed from you, and you've made my day,

you've absolutely pulled this off,

and made it incredible. You're amazing!

It was a bit hot. With all the snow around, I could just throw it all in my face!

But, no, fantastic!

I didn't think he could do something like this, so he's surprised me. So proud of him.

She did! They're talking to me, not you!

As we walked into the hall, there was snow everywhere. It was like a winter wonderland, it was amazing.

It looked absolutely picturesque as she walked up with her foam/fake snow in her hair, it was beautiful.

It's worked really well, even though it's really hot and I kind of wish it was slightly colder.

And that kiss, I was wondering what it was going to lead to! I was like, "Whoa!

"Wait till later!"

And James has one final surprise for Charlotte.

-SHE GASPS

-Oh, my God!

# We're walking in the air... #

Thanks to James' charm, Snow Business has helped make his winter wonderland a reality.

They've supplied everything from giant snowflakes

to four different kinds of snow, and seven fibreglass snowmen.

Oh, James!

(It's beautiful!)

It's beautiful!

Oh, look at... Oh, my word!

So at the table, the centrepiece is actually different snow. Feel that.

Oh, James! This is incredible!

Oh, I'm so touched.

So touched.

It's beautiful, it's so beautiful.

Thank you.

Look at the penguin! Had to get the penguins in.

-Had to get the penguins in.

-I'll never forget this.

I love this stuff, it looks like jelly.

-Snow fight!

-Oh!

I'll get my comeuppance... Oh, look, it's like winter wonderland!

I'm so impressed.

You've thought about everything, and I just never imagined this. Ever.

This is just stunning. This is stunning.

The penguins and the snowman are eerie!

They freak me out! I'm like, "Stop looking at me!"

I love the penguins. I think this one's James and that one's Charlotte.

I think he's done a fantastic job. Yep. Really chuffed.

She's... She's... He's made her proud, yeah.

And everyone else.

-Good job, James.

-Thank you.

'I'm incredibly proud of him.'

I don't think anybody could be prouder.

# And everything is quiet

# And it's always

# You and me always

# And forever

# You and me always

# And forever

# Ba ba ba ba ba... #

Crikey! That's some cake!

People asked me if I was nervous about getting married, but I could only tell them how excited I was.

I don't know if it was the thought of marrying Charlotte or having all this snow!

LAUGHTER

But I am so glad I met you, and Charlotte Anne Clark, you are everything to me.

And I can't wait to do two things. Firstly, get you back to our hotel...

-Oh, God!

-LAUGHTER

..as after 21 days, I'm not only walking funny, but I'm starting to forget where everything goes...

LAUGHTER

..and secondly, spend the rest of my life with you. And I love you. Thank you.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Ooh, you make me live

# Whatever this world can give to me... #

Looks like the wallflower may not have two left feet after all.

# Ooh, you make me live now honey... #

The best part of today for me was actually seeing those two getting married.

Seeing how happy it made James and how happy it made Charlotte,

that is the be-all and end-all.

# I've been with you such a long time

# You're my sunshine... #

D'you know, today, you've absolutely pulled it off.

You did a better job than I ever could,

and I couldn't ask for more, and I'm so grateful, SO grateful.

-Very lucky lady.

-You're welcome.

The last three weeks has made me realise how much I love Charlotte.

'It's just made me love her even more, which is...'

which is great, you know? I can't ask for any more.

-I'm just glad you had a great day.

-You've been so thoughtful.

-You are very romantic. You have it in you, and now I'm going to expect it of you all the time.

-Oh, no!

# You're my best friend. #

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