When Katie and Darnel met, it was love at first sight.

I got her work number, her mobile number and her house number.

If she had a pager I'd have got that.

I think she was about to give me her mum's number, as well.

With two young daughters, Darnel was keen to make an honest woman of Katie.

I was just like bawling.

I was, like, "Oh, my God."

I couldn't really see the ring, I'd that many tears.

I was like trying to wipe them away.

But family commitments mean they can't afford to get married.

For the new baby…

Expensive.

…more expensive than we expected.

So we're giving them £12,000 for their big day.

Bride to sign there.

But there's a catch.

They've agreed, in the presence of a lawyer, that Darnel will organise the wedding on his own.

If you don't like it, I'm not gonna be happy.

Neither of us will be happy if I don't like it.

They'll have absolutely no contact and Katie won't know a single thing about the wedding until the big day in three weeks' time.

I don't think it's fair that I'm gonna to be in a foul mood on my wedding day.

Can Darnel deliver Katie's dream day without female assistance?

Never send a man to do a woman's job.

They always get it wrong.

Will he hit the three-week deadline?

The BEEP has hit the fan and I've got two days to do a lot of stuff that should have, and could have, been done earlier.

One's got posted!

Will he put his bride off before she even gets to the altar?

If my old man to be sent me here for a hen night, I wouldn't marry him.

Can this man give this woman a day she will never forget?

My daughter's not walking down the aisle dressed like a fool, straight up!

This programme contains some strong language Today, Darnel Dawkins is moving out of the home he shares with full-time mother, Katie, and their two daughters.

Darnel and Katie separated after the birth of their first daughter, Jada, but got back together three years ago.

In that time, we got to know each other.

We become really good friends, didn't we?

We did.

And fell even deeper in love with each other.

Even deeper.

Darnel works as a care worker for the visually-impaired…

Ready?

Go!

…so it's down to Katie to run a tight ship at home.

Good morning!

I love the way she's always on the ball about things.

Have a good day.

She's always making sure this needs to be done or that's done.

He moans at me sometimes, he's like "I'm here, you're not a single mum any more."

But Katie has issues of her own - Darnel's timekeeping is rubbish.

We have to be there at 7.

30, so you really have to hurry up.

Right, I'm coming, babe!

I'm coming.

I get frustrated quite easily.

He's so laid back he's, like, laying down most of the time.

40 minutes I've been ready.

Deep down she thinks that because I'm so laid back I'm not able to plan things, do things myself.

I bet he'll be late for the wedding.

These girls got too much clothes.

Three weeks will be the longest time Darnel's been away from the family.

Three weeks will seem like forever.

It's gonna drag.

Even if I want to have a chat or hear his voice, I won't be able to do that.

That will be the difficult part.

It's exciting, but on the other side it's got me really down, because I'm not going to be around my family.

I'm not going to be able to see them every day, wake up and give my daughters a kiss every morning, as I do, wake up and give my fiance a kiss every day.

Even faithful Rico knows something's up.

He knows.

He senses my vibes.

They say dogs are like children, they pick up on everything.

He's been moping around the house all day, just like I have.

Remember, remember

I'm asking you, begging you

Please, oh, oh-oh

Oh-oh, please

Stay with me, baby…

I ought to get some waterproof mascara.

Stay with me, baby I'm begging you…

Love you.

Good luck.

The biggest day of Katie's life is now in Darnel's hands.

With just three weeks to do everything, he needs to get off to a flying start.

Oh, you're not serious.

Oh, my gosh!

First days of preparation for this three-week wedding, are not going too well.

For me, it's like a big omen.

It makes you wonder what the rest of the three weeks will be like.

Just praying and hoping this all goes all right now.

Darnel is going to be planning the wedding from his mum's house.

It feels kind of mad going home, it kind of kills your independence.

You might almost feel like being a kid again.

I haven't felt like this for a long time.

I'm back home!

It's only temporary.

With Darnel gone, Katie's mother Corinna is moving in to lend a hand.

I'm going to be her morale support, really.

Stop her freaking out, calm her down.

Help her with the kids.

It's like going back in time and having kids again.

Little ones.

Brothers.

Darnel has chosen his brothers, Marvin and Nathan, as his best men.

What time do you call this?

My first initial thought was, "Why me, God?"

I was looking at the sky.

I don't know the first thing about weddings.

I try to avoid them.

Cheers!

You up for it?

No.

I'm so not ready for it.

All right, cool.

Back to sleep then, innit?

See you in a bit!

It's going to be manic.

I don't know if he'll be able to pull it off or not.

Fingers crossed, innit?

Pray to the most high.

God isn't going to organise this wedding for them, they've got to pull their finger out.

The first thing I'm going to do is get a drink, because I can't be thinking about this stuff too much.

There's no fears on Darnel, the fears are on Marvin and Nathan.

They would want to do right by their brother and Katie, but it's not their wedding day, is it?

I'm focusing on the stag night, to be honest.

They can do it however they want to do it.

It doesn't matter what we think.

They'll think, "Great.

It's the first time we're in control and the girls aren't."

We're not pulling the puppet strings.

Music.

. No.

Dress.

Oh, yeah.

Got to get the dress in there before music.

They might do something crazy.

I'd love to get my dog walking down the aisle as ring bearer.

Put it round his neck or something.

That's nuts.

But Darnel's mother Mo knows what should first be on their list - a church.

I'm sure it's three weeks that they've got to…

sort of like, make their intention known that they plan to get married.

I know it's not even any point them picking a hall, even if they found one, they haven't got that bit covered.

With the clock ticking, the temptation to step in is too great.

If you're going to a church, there's period of time that they have to make sure people can contest.

The first thing you need to do is definitely to find out about that.

Mo's timely intervention gives Darnel a bit of a focus.

I've grown up as a Catholic, so for me a church was a big part of my life.

So to have it in the Church would be, it would be fantastic, literally.

Katie also wants a religious ceremony.

It's my dream to get married in a church.

For me religion runs through my family.

My granddad's really religious and stuff like that.

Me taking my vows in the Lord's house, in front of everyone that I love, means a massive thing to me.

With his mother's foot firmly up his backside, Darnel gets on the phone to his parish priest.

I'm looking to get married at the end of May.

We're very serious in getting married.

But at such short notice the priest isn't convinced.

OK, thank you very much.

Thanks.

Thank you.

Bye.

It looks like Darnel's ambitions for a church wedding are dead in the water.

Music: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies.

This ain't gonna be what I wanted.

Get the spirits up, bruv.

He made it sound like I wasn't taking it serious.

It makes it sound almost like everywhere is going to be thinking the same sort of thing.

You can get married anywhere, bruv.

As you believe in God and the most high, and as long as you believe in yourself and you pray.

Let the love show, that's the main thing.

It's the love, that's the reason you're getting married in the first place.

Totally worst nightmare is…

Wandsworth Registry Office.

Don't even start, Mum.

Shabby community hall.

Wandsworth Registry Office for a start would just really upset me.

Hopes for a church wedding abandoned, Darnel goes for Plan B.

This is the marble hall.

I like the look of that.

This is the first floor.

This is nice!

This is the area where we marry people.

It would be perfect.

He'd never do that in one million years.

You don't know.

He wouldn't!

You don't know, Mum.

I'm telling you that.

I'm stressing.

If my bride walked into this, especially her making her big entrance up these stairs, like trailing up, I think she'd love it.

That marble hall just looked banging.

I thought that was beautiful.

So, yeah, I'm kind of bouncing round about now.

I'm out there, I'm out there.

I'm out of my box.

I'm out of my box and I'm looking down on the world.

Are you with me?

I don't know what you're talking about.

Why not?

I don't understand what that mouthful meant.

Darnel could end up in a six-foot box if he settles for the registry office.

Although Katie has no say in the wedding, she can still dream the dream.

Hi.

Katie?

I'm Katie.

Nice to meet you.

Wow.

They're so beautiful, aren't they?

I'd love my ideal dress to be like a big white dress, but not too big.

I don't want to look like a meringue.

You don't want to be, "Where's Katie, through her wedding dress?"

Not too big.

Elegant.

Having ruled out a meringue, the search for something elegant begins.

I feel like a little girl in a sweet shop.

A kid in a candy store.

Yeah, that's the one.

It's exciting.

I've never seen anyone try on a wedding dress before.

No, it doesn't suit me.

No, definitely not me.

With none of Katie's choices quite hitting the mark, the manager suggests…

a meringue.

Oh, my God!

Oh, Katie it's beautiful.

It's just amazing.

This dress is just mind-blowing.

She really looks like a fucking bride.

Sorry!

Sorry!

She, actually, really looks like a bride.

She looks stunning.

I feel sorry for Darnel now.

It's going to be pretty tough. "I don't want a big dress," now she's tried the big princess dress on, it's what she wants.

He's going to have this image of what she likes and it's totally changed.

So sorry.

It's kind of sunk in now that…

Is any dress he's going to pick now, it's not going to stand up to this dress.

I just love everything about it.

It's really sad, because she's found her dress and she might not be able to have it.

I never thought it meant that much, but it's going to.

Since trying it on, she loves it.

It'll knock her for six if it ain't the right one.

She can't hide her feelings.

She'll be like that.

She'll be fuming.

I'm going to beat him if he don't choose that one.

Katie's dress is the last thing on Darnel's mind.

He's still coming to terms with the idea of a registry office wedding.

Then divine intervention strikes.

His Aunty Sharon has given him details of her church in South London, but with only 16 days until the wedding, Darnel has to convince the minister he's serious.

I'm shaking because I'm so nervous.

This is the second most important thing to me.

The first most important thing to me is I'm marrying Katie, of course.

The second thing is that, the fact of having it in a church.

That will be just so blessed and right now that's what I want.

So fingers crossed.

Pray and just hope it goes well.

Hi, Pastor, I've come to you to find out about my wedding.

I was looking to get married for the end of this month.

The date, the 30th.

You're really cutting it fine.

You realise that?

Yes.

Your aunt is a member here.

And a pretty good connection.

Then, yeah, it's possible.

Oh, thank you.

It's possible.

We can do that.

Words can't express right now.

All I'm saying is thank you.

All I'm saying is thank you.

Sorted.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes!

I can't even talk.

My head's just not…

I'm not in the right frame of mind right now.

I've got my date.

That's what matters.

I've got my date, my church.

Everything's set.

So, on that side there, that's perfect.

Now, it's just time to move on for the rest of the stuff, but right now I'm going to go home, sit down and dwell on the fact I've got my church.

Everything else can wait.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Everything else can't wait.

The church may be in the bag, but he still needs to find a reception venue before he can send out invitations.

Five days into Darnel's wedding planning and with no news of a date, Katie is already anxious.

It's already short notice as it is.

If invitations aren't even sent out yet, I'm worried that people will be like, "I did ask you three weeks ago "to give me the date and you haven't done it, so I can't come."

Katie can't hassle Darnel, but her mum can.

I think it's a matter of urgency now.

He needs to get his finger out with the invitations, cos people are starting to get a bit irate.

Hello.

Hello, Mama.

These are for you.

We're both getting a bit concerned about invitations going out.

Time-frame wise.

Get on that ASAP.

Get your finger out.

My finger is so far out, it's unbelievable.

All out tonight!

That's a possibility.

That is a possibility.

Cool.

We're starting to get a bit stressed about it now.

Right!

Someone's telling porkies.

Until I get the venue sorted I can't send out invitations, because you have to put on the invitations where the venue is.

I have to get on the ball and get the venue sorted, get rolling.

No time for butterflies, no time for nervousness.

I've got to get it all rolling and just go.

SONG: "We're Busy Doing Nothing" The next day it seems that Darnel has forgotten all about "getting things rolling".

What we've decided to do is take a day off and find some breathing space just to play some PlayStation.

Just chill out and start back tomorrow.

Today is officially day off.

No wedding talk, no nothing, today is just chilling day.

When you think you've got one thing sorted, ten other things are waiting to get dealt with.

It's too much.

We've done a lot this week, considering the space of time we've had.

But I think we have accomplished, well not accomplished a lot, but we've tried to pursue a lot.

So far, all we seem to have established really is the church.

I thought they were going to look for the reception venue.

But I'm not sure now.

They talked about suit hire and stuff, but they look like they're enjoying the PlayStation at the minute.

So, I'm starting to panic a little bit now.

He's hasn't even ordered the cake.

He's not sorted out invitations.

I'm thinking this is week two of this whole thing, so week three is when the marriage is going to take place, but nobody knows the wedding is happening yet.

Cos he's got nothing to tell them.

I'm thinking "Will we have anybody at this wedding?"

Cos by the time he does tell them, will people be able to make it?

That's another one of my worries.

I feel everything has been left a little bit too late.

Darnel's mother isn't the only one who's nervous.

Cos I'm quite a control freak.

I'm trying to control how I'm feeling and what I'm thinking.

It's difficult when you don't know what's going on.

I feel like I'm sitting on a rollercoaster, basically, and it's just going and it won't stop.

Good morning, I'm phoning to find out about your availability for a wedding function.

It's members only.

All right, not to worry.

Thanks a lot.

With only ten days until the wedding, the brothers finally try to pin down a reception venue.

This week, yeah.

I know it's short notice.

OK, then.

Thanks a lot. 'Sorry, it's booked.'

That's for this year, yes.

'30th May next year?'

No, this year.

You have already got a booking.

Do you supply Caribbean food by any chance?

To make matters worse, Darnel's being very specific about the food he wants to serve.

There's only two problems, the availability and the catering.

You don't have an option for self-catering?

Still stuck at square one.

Please, come on.

Please.

Finally a ray of hope. 'Yes, it's free.

You're lucky because we've had a cancellation…' So far it sounds beautiful. '£150.'

£150 for…

? '£150.'

For the venue? 'Yeah, that includes two bar staff and somebody on the door.'

OK.

'Holds 180 people maximum.'

OK. 'We don't have any kitchen facilities, so people normally bring in their own buffets or caterers.'

OK.

Would you get married in your venue?

'Would I get married in my venue?'

Yeah.

'Well, yeah, I've worked here for 17 years. 'It's a nice hall.

It's a nice size.

It dresses up nicely.'

I'd love to come and view it today if that's possible.

'OK.

Thanks.

Bye.'

We have hope.

We have hope.

Wait till four?

I want to go now.

We have hope.

But £150, bruv!

What kind of venue's that?

Oh, boy.

Mate! 'I was up at four o'clock this morning.'

It wasn't a dream.

It was a bit of a nightmare.

I woke up and I was like, "Oh, my God!"

Hiya.

I'm Darnel.

I've come to see you about a wedding function. 'I dreamt the venue was really dark and dingy.'

It was just dreadful.

The stage obviously we clear.

We've had bridge today, so we've had their equipment on stage, but that'll be clear. 'The walls were like a really…

yellow.

It was awful.'

He was just sitting there eating his food.

He was like, "Are you enjoying your day, babes?"

I was like, "No, it's the worst day of my life!"

And then I woke up.

When you spoke to me this morning it was quite short notice.

We've had a cancellation, which was just…

As luck would have it.

Superb.

Lucky for me.

Lucky for me!

I like this.

Yeah.

I'm sure your bride will.

Once it's all dressed up.

That was very…

very emotional.

Very, very emotional.

But I suppose for £150 you can't go wrong.

The brothers only have one other available venue on their list, Sandown Race Course.

This is more like it.

This is more like it.

It's very private.

You have a nice private balcony.

And we have access…

Yep, this is all yours.

We don't need nothing else.

We wouldn't need anything else.

What a piece of luck!

Now what would be the odds on a race course serving Caribbean food?

Do you reckon that's all right?

I don't think they've missed anything.

Curried mutton, apricot rice, jerk chicken, plantain, vegetable, potato, curry rice and peas.

They've got the coleslaw.

That's my speciality.

That's nice.

Fruit salad, as well.

I love that, that's nice.

Spot on.

I like the venue a lot.

I can see my day - sorry, our day happening here.

I can see it.

I can actually visualise it.

And it's there.

The dream's come true.

Lucky Darnel's first punt at finding a venue has come up trumps.

But it's cost him £6,500.

Next up, buying dresses for the bridesmaids.

Individually all these girls are lovely.

But collectively, all together - headache.

Keeping my glasses on.

And I'm keeping a stern face and playing daddy.

What I say goes.

Music: "Here Come The Girls" by Sugababes.

Darnel's picked a large department store in the hope there'll be a dress in here, somewhere, that all the girls will agree on.

I don't like nothing here.

I don't like ANYTHING here.

I don't like that.

That's like an old granny's wedding dress.

That is.

It's like an old granny's wedding dress.

I think Jenova at the moment is the hardest one to please.

She doesn't like most of what the other two are picking out.

Green, no way.

I think that's all right.

For a bridesmaid's dress?

Yes.

Shall we try it on?

Just in case.

No!

If we can't find nothing, then we've got back-up.

I don't like it.

It's going to be hard work.

Shall we try some stuff on, just in case?

Can't choose anything from here.

No, I don't like that.

Kelly I'm not going to fit in a ten, am I?

Just put the damn thing on.

Not everyone's built of bones, man.

Here's an eight.

Put that on.

Why did you get the ugliest dress in my size?

There's nothing.

OK.

Let's go somewhere else now.

I don't like it.

I don't like it.

Just try it on.

I don't want to try it on, cos I don't like it.

My head's hurting.

No.

They haven't got a six.

A ten ain't going to fit.

This skirt is an eight.

Look at that.

Listen a minute and I'm going to kick your butt.

Jenova should have been hung-over.

Jenova should have been hungover.

She'd have been easier to work with.

What?

You don't like it?

Don't like it.

I'm actually liking that.

Definitely.

Definite.

That is banging.

Definitely.

It's good we've found a dress that everybody likes.

I don't know what's going on.

What's going on?

You win.

Victory at last.

But no sooner does he resolve one problem, then another one rears its head.

The wedding's only a week away.

With no news of a date, Katie's mum is on his case again.

I'm going to ask the inevitable question, which I probably won't get an answer to or any anything else - invitations?

Invitations will be going out very, very soon.

When's very soon?

Very soon.

It'll be literally the next two days, the latest.

Katie's sitting at home pulling her hair out, cos we don't know what's going on.

He's totally oblivious to that fact.

He's just Darnel, he'll do it when he's ready and no-one will make him do it before.

I could stand there every day nagging him.

He'll do it when he's ready and that's it.

But invitations will have to wait.

He's got a favour to ask the minister.

One of my ideas was to have my dog as the ring-bearer.

I would love that to happen.

I'm going in and finding out whether that's possible in the church.

He's always been around the family from when he was a puppy.

He plays with the kids and everything.

So he's just one of the loved ones.

I call him my son.

Would that be at all possible?

I've never seen it happen.

He's very well trained and stuff.

Because it's very well-trained, we will take your word for it.

Now he's given his word to a man of a cloth, Darnel needs to follow through.

It's time for some doggy discipline.

Music: "Who Let The Dogs Out?"

by Baha Men.

Hello, Darnel.

This is Rico.

Inside.

Very friendly, isn't he?

He's my card for you by the way.

The scale of the challenge soon becomes apparent.

So he's very excitable, isn't he?

Very excitable.

What we're going to do is create some structures and boundaries, so that he can really do the things that you want.

Ultimately, it's going to be the big test of this Saturday at your wedding.

Good boy.

Go like that.

Having established some ground rules, it's over to the church for a dress rehearsal under the watchful eye of the minister.

The whole focus is on you.

You're the dominant member of the pack.

You're the alpha.

There will be people here, and he'll be hearing different voices, music is playing, songs are being sung.

Hopefully it will be OK.

For my sake, that is.

On the mat.

Sit.

Well done.

It's a new road to travel.

I hope everything will work out fine.

A little prayer and God's blessing, hopefully everything will go really well on Saturday for you.

He's a wonderful boy.

Darnel's getting used to being the alpha male.

It's Katie's hen night and he's keeping the girls in the dark about his plans for the night ahead.

All we know is it'll take about an hour to get there and that's about it.

I am very excited about the hen night.

I'm feeling evil.

HE LAUGHS GHOULISHLY I don't mind having a surprise, but is it going to suit my elder…

mother and aunties?

Hello.

Hi.

The cabs are here.

Right, OK.

Oh, my God!

THEY SHRIEK I love it!

Love it!

Your taxi's here.

He's a bastard, I love him.

The Hummer has the desired effect.

I'm so happy.

I can't explain in words.

I was just expecting a taxi.

He's done really, really well.

This is just the hen do.

I love it.

I think it's amazing.

I feel like a celebrity!

They'll get all girlied up and wonder where they're going.

You'll never guess where I'm sending them.

WOMEN SCREAM Has he sent me bingo?

Really?

Oh, my God!

I don't want to go bingo.

I'm going out to get drunk.

Bingo, all the girls are like silent.

Katie needn't have worried about the older generation.

Is he tricking us?

I don't know.

I don't think he is.

I'm going to get…

"Darnel's not serious. "No way, he's not serious."

That's what I'm going to get.

My ears are going to start burning me.

This is typical Darnel.

Typical Darnel.

But she's determined to put on a brave face.

To be honest, it's quite a surprise.

But he knows I like bingo, so I don't mind.

Eight and one, 81.

Seven and three, 73.

Three and two, 72.

Three and seven, 37…

There's nothing blue-rinse about the stag night.

And it's not long before Darnel suspects his brothers are up to something.

Trust me, blood.

Don't panic, man.

I got your back, bruv.

I'm looking after you tonight.

Do I believe that?

Do I believe that?

Tonight, the plan is a secret.

Usually a woman strips for the guy on their stag night.

We're going to go the opposite way.

I'm going to get Darnel to do a striptease for a hen party - live!

DJ: Darnel, all the crowd here, and the ladies, would like you to do a strip on the stage, please!

Music: "Dance Wiv Me" by Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris.

Number three…

Things aren't exactly hotting up at the bingo.

…number four.

Yellow, 37.

Red, 19.

To be honest, I don't think Katie is very impressed.

You know every anniversary's gonna be making up for this crap.

We ain't bingo mums.

We don't want to sit down and play bingo.

He knows that, and that's why he's done it.

So thank you.

The pink Hummer and the champagne - fabulous.

But it's just like bringing someone up and then kicking them off the top of the Hilton, literally.

I hope he don't take the piss on my wedding day, like he did tonight.

Hummana, hummana.

I was going to follow whatever you lot set out for me.

I'm pissed that I said it.

You know, he's serious about getting married.

He's proved it to us.

So, it's all good.

He did it.

He did it.

Eight and four, 84.

If my old man to be sent me here for a hen night, I'd lynch the bugger and I wouldn't marry him.

I would.

I love bingo, but that's not fair.

Them going to a posh do and they're getting all this crap.

We're going to a posh do later on.

That's all right, love.

Good luck.

Well done.