Couple tracks down mysterious wedding crasher after four years

The 33-year-old painter and decorator was due to attend a wedding at the same time two miles away - Michelle Wylie

A couple have tracked down a mysterious wedding crasher four years on from their big day.

Michelle and John Wylie were married in Prestwick, Ayrshire in November 2021, and noticed that when they received their photographs, there was a man they did not recognise in attendance.

Ms Wylie, 38, had a number of theories about the mystery man, including that he could be a “mad stalker”, but he has now been identified as an accidental gate-crasher.

They had been trying to identify him since their wedding day, and finally tracked him down with the help of an internet sleuth, ‘Dazza’, who put out a social media appeal trying to find him.

The wedding crasher, Andrew Hillhouse, 33, revealed on Facebook that he had been caught in their photos after he was meant to be at a different wedding two miles away.

‘I just had to commit to this act,’ said Mr Hillhouse once he realised he was at the wrong wedding - BBC Scotland News

He explained that he was invited as a plus one to his partner’s friend’s wedding, and he was told the ceremony was taking place at 2pm at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick, when in fact it was being held at the Great Western Hotel in Ayr.

Mr Hillhouse, a painter and decorator, said: “I was cutting it fine, as I’m known to do, and pulled up to the Carlton at 1:55pm. I see a piper outside playing a tune and a bunch of well dressed people slowly making their way inside, and I remember thinking to myself cool, this is obviously the right place.

“I parked my car and rushed inside. I make my way into the hall and saw the groom standing and waiting nervously. I had never met Michaela’s husband before so I thought alright, this must be Ben.

“In fact, the only 2 people I did know at this wedding was my partner and [the bride] Michaela, and they were away in another room so the fact that I didn’t recognise a single person in this place, didn’t raise any alarm bells.

He described the moment he realised he was at the wrong wedding as the bride began to walk down the aisle and he thought “oh my god, that’s not Michaela, who is that?”

Mr Hillhouse said: “The thing is, you can’t exactly stand up and walk out of a wedding mid ceremony so I just had to commit to this act and spent the next 20 minutes awkwardly sitting there trying to be as inconspicuous as my 6ft 2 a-- could be.

He said he then “rushed outside” and made his way to the correct wedding, where he was “almost as popular as the actual bride and groom,” retelling the story of his mistaken attendance.

The wedding crasher’s explanation for his unintentional gate-crashing got more than 600 comments and over 29,000 likes.

It has also put him in touch with the bride – the pair are now Facebook friends and have since met in person to share a laugh about their unlikely connection.

Mrs Wylie and Mr Hillhouse are now Facebook friends and recently met - BBC

Ms Wylie, a digital facilitator for the NHS, said she had tried several times over the years to discover the mystery man in her wedding photos, but none of her family, friends or suppliers, had any idea.

Mr Hillhouse was pictured sat on the aisle during the Wylies’ ceremony, and was stood at the back of a group shot with all guests in attendance.

Ms Wylie said: “As soon as I got the sample of the wedding pictures I noticed it straight away. We all said do you know who that is? We were asking around to family and friends and no one had any idea. We now know he slipped away straight after the ceremony.

“I had thought that he should have stuck around so at least we could have met on the day, but then we wouldn’t have had all of this. It just worked out the way it was supposed to.”

Ms Wylie added: “Our wedding day really was the perfect day. But this adds another great story to it that gives us even more special memories.

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