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Episode 6 of Series 3 of Don't Tell the Bride
Luke and Gemma are madly in love.
I couldn't ever imagine being with anybody else.
They've been together for two years and can't wait to get married.
But weddings don't come cheap and with a six-month-old baby they have other priorities.
You just don't have the money.
So, to speed things up, we're giving them £12,000 for their big day.
This'll be a full-time job!
That's not good!
That's no good.
But there's a catch - they've both agreed in the presence of a lawyer that Luke will organise the wedding.
Oh, my God.
Oh, my God.
They'll have no contact.
I can't wait to pin him down!
And Gemma won't know a thing until the big day in three weeks' time.
You've ruined it, boy!
Three weeks apart will push their relationship to the limit.
It's really getting to me now.
Will he score an own goal?
I'll go mental if it involves Aston Villa.
I'll get stick, but I'd like it.
Will he prove to be man or mouse?
I'm getting married on Sunday!
Will he trip up before the altar?
He knows I'd be this upset about it!
Can this man give this woman a day she'll never forget?
A nightmare.
Absolute nightmare.
Everything else is perfect, it's just this.
One thing thrown in at the last minute.
Today 22-year-old mum Gemma is moving out of the family home she shares with Luke and baby Evie.
I'm a bit apprehensive, a bit worried.
I'm quite scared.
Lots of different emotions at the moment.
When customer services adviser Gemma met Luke at work, the attraction was instant.
I saw him walk in.
It's a bit cliched, but it was love at first sight.
I fancied him.
In an office environment, you have to get your claws in straight away, so I let all the girls know that he was mine.
"Mine!"
No, no, no!
No, Gemma, Gemma, please.
Oh, you hate it, don't you?
She terrified me at first.
She was so hyper.
He was very quiet.
We hardly spoke.
I violated you.
Yeah.
16 months later, baby Evie was born and Luke made an impromptu decision.
It was two days before Christmas.
I rang my brother for help.
"What can I get her for Christmas?"
And I said, "Why not propose?"
Tongue in cheek.
Brilliant idea!
He sort of took that from me as the green light to go ahead and do that.
Had you not been thinking about it before?
A little bit, yeah.
At their home in the Cotswolds, it's clear who wears the trousers.
I am the boss of the relationship.
I'm very particular about things.
I can't do anything right.
I've got quite high standards and I like it done my way.
Luke, what is that?
Your hanging skills are terrible.
It'll dry on the line.
Luke…
And if he doesn't get it right, she doesn't hold back.
She just gives you this look and it's so deep.
A filthy look.
She just did it there!
You just feel like a piece of…
dirt on the floor.
He may complain, but in truth Luke is quite happy to do as he's told.
You're a follower, not a leader.
What?
You like to be led.
Or you need to be led, actually, I should say.
I do get pushed.
My brother calls me a carpet because people walk all over me.
Whoo!
So how is Luke going to cope with organising the biggest day of Gemma's life?
My friends and family think I'm crazy for handing over control.
If I miss something out, I'm buggered.
She will go ballistic.
It's time for Luke and Gemma to say their goodbyes.
This is it, then.
Be good.
I love you.
It'll be all right.
I promise.
The next time they see each other will be at the altar.
I miss you already.
Love you.
Love you, too.
Forever and ever.
..
I feel horrible.
I do feel quite upset.
It's starting to sink in now what we're doing.
Three weeks away from her is really gonna kill me.
For the next three weeks, Gemma and Evie will be staying with Gemma's mum and sister Rachel.
I do want it to look classy and elegant.
Contemporary is what I want.
Oh, God…
Oh, goodness.
I think I must be mad.
Back at home, Luke's busy setting up his new headquarters.
Never mind the furniture removal, you've got a wedding to plan.
Without Gemma to point him, I think Luke will probably struggle, really.
I don't think he's one to make lots of decisions himself.
Luckily for Luke, his best man is older brother Bryan, who's used to making decisions for him.
Party time!
Since their father died when they were young, Bryan's assumed a paternal role. 'Bryan's very strong-minded.'
I'm worried he's going to throw Luke off course. 'He'll be pushing me to do stuff I don't particularly want to do.'
It'll be hard work.
First thing on the agenda is the local pub…
for a brainstorm.
Luke has made up his mind on one thing - his colour scheme.
Colours?
Claret and blue.
Hmm.
Not exactly conventional wedding colours.
Me and my brother, our family, are really big Aston Villa football fans.
I'd love to get the Villa colours, a little bit of claret and blue.
Definitely.
Traditional bride Gemma can't think of anything worse.
I definitely do not want it football-related in the slightest!
Nothing.
But it's not just the colour scheme that's a worry.
Dancers.
Luke wants to put on a big show starring him and his two brothers.
What you see a lot on the shows on TV, Britain's Got Talent, you, me and Mark walk out and do some dancing.
We need…
I'm not 100% on that idea, but we'll give it a go.
Day 2 and the lads are turning their attention to where the wedding will take place.
I'll start ringing venues.
Luke wants the ceremony and reception to happen in the same place.
Top of the list is his football club's stadium.
Hi, I'm looking to get married at Villa Park…
The worst nightmare is that he's going to think it'll be great in the grounds of the football ground.
That would just be awful.
Villa Park, she'd go ballistic, but…
I'd like it there, so we'll just have to see.
All right.
See you tomorrow.
Bye.
Villa Park's on.
Hey!
Give it three weeks and this'll be a full-time job.
But after calling some other venues, Luke the learner wedding planner has lost track of his appointments.
That was tomorrow at 10.
30.
That's today at 10.
30.
Today?
It's at 10.
30 today.
What's that?
Is that them?
Who's this?
Who have we rang?
Did we ring them?
Who's this?
Why don't you write things down?
Shut up.
I need to think.
Idiot!
He's a nightmare because he hasn't written anything down or when he has it's someone here, someone here…
some there, some here.
He's getting aerated.
Shut up.
The pressure's starting to tell for him.
And a little bit for me.
I'm used to taking more control.
Taking a back step is killing me!
It's been hard work scraping together a couple of appointments, but it's time to hit the road.
Get the post code.
Luke's made an unusual decision.
Finding somewhere to marry isn't his top priority.
Sourcing table decorations is.
You shall have a fishy when the boat comes in…
We'd like bowls in the centre of the table with possibly some fish.
Yeah, blue or claret…
Yeah!
There's the female.
There's the mix of colours.
Awesome.
I love that.
I like…
Yeah.
You can see the Villa colours.
That is perfect.
With the sideshow sorted, their next task is, finally, the main event.
There it is.
Just there.
Aston Villa's stadium is in Birmingham, 50 miles from home, and a logistical nightmare, but for these die-hard football fans, it's a small price to pay.
I want the bridesmaids to be this sort of colour.
And the fish are these colours.
Gemma's chief bridesmaid is her best friend Tessa.
She has no faith at all in the groom.
Luke's a complete drongo.
He couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery.
I'll go mental if he does anything to do with Aston Villa.
I really will.
Could he be persuaded to do Aston Villa colours?
Absolutely not.
You sure?
Yes, I'm very sure.
I was thinking of getting the page boy to walk down the aisle with the rings on something like that.
I quite like this.
I'd look a trollop, walking up the aisle in claret and blue!
He thought you wanted to look like Jordan.
I dislike either, very largely, but if I was put in a situation of having to choose, it's Jordan all the way.
£12 well spent, I think.
Definitely.
So that's a few fish and one pillow sorted.
Time to focus on the venue.
This is the Trinity '82.
This part is the trinity element.
And this is the '82, which is a casual bar area.
If we had the ceremony here, we'd set it up theatre-style with a top table for the registrar.
I didn't expect it to look so…
nice.
It's hard to explain, but it's really nice.
The church is really small.
Gemma knows where she wants to marry and it's definitely not modern.
It's so old.
It's gorgeous.
Tidmington Chapel in Warwickshire dates back to the 13th century.
I just want it to be very intimate, just my close family and friends, so that would be the perfect location.
It's so romantic.
Go on.
It's so lovely.
You could have a gospel choir at the back.
Oh, no, I don't want that.
No.
TESSA HUMS WEDDING MARCH Whoo!
It's just so cute.
It's perfect.
It's not that I'm religious and want to do it in front of God, but He happens to have nice buildings to get married in, so…
we have to go with Him.
Unfortunately for Gemma, Luke worships at a different altar.
The sun's shining for you as well.
It's really, really nice.
It's coming home, it's coming Football's coming home…
When we actually come out, would it be…
? Yes.
OK.
All your guests can have a good look at the stadium.
Look at the views!
That is beautiful for your photo opportunity.
In the long distance you've got the hills and trees.
I love it.
If you wanted to go down to the changing rooms or pitch side, you can do that.
It'll be really nice.
I'm getting excited.
Hang our kits up and get out of our wedding stuff.
This is something I'd love.
It's just…
Gemma would kill me!
I'd get married here in a flash.
Not wanting to be killed on his wedding day, sensible Luke is checking out a location closer to home.
It's not his dream venue, but it's not Gemma's either.
Ettington Park Hotel isn't small or intimate, but it is, in one sense at least, spiritual.
It's supposed to be haunted or is that a myth?
It's the most haunted hotel in the UK.
This is one of the most haunted rooms.
Is that why you knock or is it in case someone's in?
It has a knock back!
This is the Pritchard Suite.
He was the architect for the hotel.
Apparently, he hung himself over this beam.
Let's get home!
It is quite cold.
It is starting to get a bit cold, yeah.
That's the air conditioning, mate!
Fortunately, the room that is licensedfor weddings is ghost-free.
Of course, football fanatic Luke wants to add his own touches.
If we just go claret, blue, claret, blue all the way down…
Claret, blue.
Yeah!
I really like it.
I do.
Beautiful ground, perfect for photos.
Practically a church in there.
It ticks all the boxes and indecisive Luke makes a decision…
not to make any decisions just yet.
I have to have a think about it.
A toss-up between a haunted house or a football stadium.
How romantic(!
) He loves me, he loves me not.
He loves me, he loves me not, he loves me…
he loves me not!
It's not meant to be!
Shut up!
The boys want to get their invitations out quickly, so have put aside time to draw up a guest list.
Luke…
Yes, Bryan?
If you can spell their name on here, they can come.
That's funny.
I don't think we should invite Gemma, then.
She's not coming.
What about Gemma's side, then?
I've forgotten their names.
Obviously, her mum's essential and her sisters.
Is there any other family?
I can't be bothered thinking about people.
I don't know anyone outside.
I've just gone blank on a name.
Her other mate from…
He would be…
Aww.
Oh, I tell you who I'd like to come.
I've forgotten their name now.
That's not my name That's not my name…
Aww!
That's not my name…
I forgot all their names!
I don't think Luke's too in on Gemma's network of people.
I'll just have to go into her work or something and take a blank invite and ask them their name!
Step one…
Unaware she may not have anyone she knows at her wedding, Gemma's top concern is getting in shape for the big day.
Luckily, Tessa's on hand.
Hold it.
OK, so you have to roll down here.
Like that.
Tessa might not be an exercise guru, but she can keep Gemma motivated.
I'll get some cans.
Good plan!
I'll have a lager, please.
Ohh…
These are weights.
We can drink these if you do 20.
Yes!
I had a personal trainer for two weeks.
Did you?
Yeah.
There's so many things you can do on the ball.
Really?
Yeah.
Maybe Luke should be here.
That's quite good.
Feels nice.
Keep going.
I'm having a Kit Kat.
You've got it!
That'll be £20, please.
Crisps, cheese and salad cream?
Sounds good.
Oh, I've only got Wotsits!
Let's just have a chocolate bar.
You want a Gold bar?
Yeah.
OK.
It's halfway through the first week and Luke still hasn't made any major decisions.
Big brother Bryan encourages him to start small.
If you like it Then you should have put a rung on it…
But he's overwhelmed by the responsibility of choosing a ring.
Ohh!
It's just decisions, decisions, decisions.
The decision is simple - buy it here or you don't.
We've got to close things off now.
You've got to be ruthless.
Decide, go in there, buy it.
Go in there and say, "If I do it now, can you do it for 400, please?
Please."
This is what I need to do.
I just need to give him a kick start to go and do things.
Start making decisions.
Done it.
You've done something, mate!
I've got rings and a pillow!
You've done something!
I spent money!
Luke spent £415 on two gold rings.
Buoyed up by his new-found confidence, he's finally ready to cut a deal with one of the venues.
Is there anything at all you could do to knock that down, please, to about £5,000?
Luke's negotiating skills may be coming along, but with half the budget at stake, Bryan finds it hard to leave him to it.
I'll discuss that in a second.
Bedrooms, everything.
What about first thing tomorrow morning?
(Early.
Eight o'clock.
) What's that?
You can't deal with pressure.
It's just you.
Thank you, Jenny.
Bye-bye now.
Of the two venues, Villa Park is cheaper and it IS Luke's dream, but there are other factors.
It's a lot cheaper, but it doesn't have the rooms, travel is huge.
Ahh!
He needs to make his mind up, but, true to form, decision dodger Luke plays for extra time.
I'll have a think about it.
Five hours later and, back at home, Luke is still deliberating.
If we did go ahead with that one, it saves moving about and worrying.
But Bryan's patience is wearing thin.
We have to make that decision now.
The colours that we're doing, could that be a trade off?
We have Ettington Park, but with all the Villa involved.
Whereas at Aston Villa, and then with Aston Villa colours, is that Aston Villa overload?
Do you know what?
Ettington Park.
Is that done deal?
Let's do it.
Back of the net!
He's finally made a decision and spent £5,500 on the venue.
Meanwhile, Gemma's made a decision of her own.
I'm actually going to be a wife.
Yeah, you'll be Mr and Mrs.
I'm going to be Nick Alcott's wife.
I'll have to change my email address.
And your actual name!
The way you said it!
"I'll have to change my email address!"
That would be my first priority(!
) Or maybe your passport and driving licence!
They're only halfway through the first week and already the boys are running out of steam.
Day 4 in the Big Brother house.
Bryan and Luke have not yet come to blows.
If they talk about weddings again, they will punch each other's head in.
Oh, God, this is so draining.
This is harder than work.
This is harder than work.
He's got a fish, a pillow and a haunted house.
How hard can it be?
But Luke has no time to wallow.
The boys head to a bridal shop to face the toughest challenge of all.
That's all right.
With no football paraphernalia in sight, Luke is well out of his comfort zone.
We're looking for something, possibly a little bit of bling here.
I don't want it…
not too tight, but quite…
It's hard to explain.
Do you want to just…
? Luckily, Bryan is focused on what's important.
Make her boobs look bigger, bum look smaller, tummy look smaller.
Gemma's also hitting the shops.
She has no say in her wedding dress, but a girl can dream.
Hello!
OK, I want it really, really crisp white.
And, em, quite elegant, really.
Quite simple.
A fairly classic shape?
Absolutely.
With a modern twist to it?
That would be perfect.
I really am getting married!
That's good on a small bust.
She has got a small bust.
What cup is she?
I don't know.
C?
C's all right.
I'd be happy with a pair of Cs.
Let's not talk about breasts.
Please.
Oh, my God!
Oh, my God.
It's beautiful.
And my boobs are huge!
You get this.
Yes!
Yes, yes, yes.
I'm in love.
It's gorgeous, isn't it?
Amazing.
I love it.
And it all follows you.
It follows!
What would you give?
Marks out of 10.
Definitely 8.
8 out of 10 is not enough for Gemma, so the shop assistant suggests something more contemporary.
Do you love?
Mm, yeah, it's OK.
It feels…
Light.
..
lighter.
Yeah.
Luke's looking at a dress that's uncannily similar.
What do you think?
I don't like that one.
I don't like it.
I do like it.
That's the best one.
It looks like a cake.
It's like roses, isn't it?
Like a rose petal.
Like a toilet holder.
It's the quilting effect I'm not sure about.
The crunchiness is cool.
I do like it.
But will it go with Luke's colour scheme?
Look, claret and blue.
How cool is that?
Fabulous.
We're ridiculous!
It's a definite thumbs up.
So he's going for it?
Is he heck!
This decision dodger wants to see some more dresses.
Just as well because Gemma's found her inner rock chick.
Nice day for a white wedding…
I absolutely love it!
This has blown every other one out of the water.
Really?
I love it.
Quite Gothic, in a way.
With the black.
And I like it.
My dad's a biker and it's quite…
rocky.
In a way, it's got a rocky feel.
And I absolutely love it.
While Gemma's gone alternative, Luke loves a traditional dress.
I love it.
That looks medieval.
It's a bit more old sort of fashioned sort of style.
Not too modern.
Yes, like a vintage look.
See, right, I thought I would like very classic, not too much detailing and just very simple, but now I want to make more of a statement.
I really want people to notice me!
It's just so striking.
Yes.
Beautiful.
To give you the idea of the bustle, the dress would be up like that, again with that medieval look.
When she pulled it up, it did look Victorian.
Henry VIII sort of style.
So Henry VIII was Victorian?
History may not be Luke's strong point, but suddenly decisions are.
I love that one.
I don't think I need to see any more.
Or does he?
Could you just try this one and then that'll be it?
Sorry.
They're both nice, aren't they?
That's really thrown me out.
It's so difficult!
I'm gonna sleep on it tonight.
No change there, then.
It's been a tough week and Luke's taking a break to design invitations.
The other things I'm just buying.
This is something I'm completely creating from scratch.
People can see that I CAN do stuff.
It's all my idea.
I love it.
For once Luke's in control and Bryan's input is not welcome.
You've put a border in.
I said specifically I don't want a border.
Might as well start from scratch.
It was all there, Bryan, and you fiddle about.
We had that fancy writing.
You are an idiot.
I had it all sorted and you've ruined it, Bryan!
It was done.
Oh, my God…
I can't believe you did that.
With so much resistance, Bryan takes the hint and leaves, but if Luke thought everything would be easier without him, he hadn't taken his printer into account.
It flippin' didn't work!
Didn't work.
No, that didn't work either.
Please work!
That didn't work.
It's there, it's there.
Come on.
..
Printing.
Come on.
Oh, so close!
So close!
That's worse!
Oh, no!
Come on!
..
I'm proud of myself.
I've actually achieved something.
I love the colours.
As soon as Gemma sees the claret and blue, she's going to know the scheme.
A week into the wedding planning and Luke's finally found the confidence to shake off Bryan.
Hello again.
Hello.
What can we do for you?
The two dresses, I need to see them again.
With no one to lean on, maybe this groom will start calling the shots.
OK.
Can you try the other one on?
Thank you.
He may not be able to ask Bryan for advice, but old habits die hard.
What's your personal favourite?
I do like the other one, but Jane loves this one.
It's 50/50.
It is.
No…
! Luke is struggling to choose a dress, but Gemma has no choice.
She has to wear whatever Luke picks.
I'm not wearing it if it's horrible.
You wouldn't wear a horrible dress.
I'm not looking like a doughnut on my wedding day.
No way.
That is the main part of the day.
Everyone says, "What did the bride look like, what did she wear?"
Before "What was the cake like, what was the venue like?"
It's always about the bride first.
If everyone's laughing at me for the wrong reasons, I'm not wearing it.
I wouldn't want to be in Luke's spot at all.
It must be very difficult to choose…
Especially if you're Luke.
It's hard.
It is.
I love them both.
Well, he is trying to choose between two classic, ivory-coloured, embroidered dresses that are virtually identical.
Sorry, guys.
Try that one on one more time.
This is normal.
I've got that one in my head.
Gemma has her mum to comfort her.
You can get a horrible dress, but if it's well-made and looks so different on…
Shut up, Mum.
Two hours and several dress changes later, Luke has finally made up his mind.
I'll go with the other one.
Well done.
He shoots and he scores!
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Luke has spent 650 quid on Gemma's dress.
Together with the venue, rings, flowers, photographer and registrar, he has now forked out over two-thirds of his budget.
All of this hard work is beginning to take its toll.
I've put a lot of sleepless nights, blood, sweat, the lot, into this wedding.
I'm thinking about it 24/7.
It's just as long as she's…
the stuff with her is perfect.
That does mean a lot to me, knowing that she's happy and she's looking forward to it and seeing me again.
That is the most important…
I just miss her so much.
It's the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life.
They call her love, love, love, love, love
They call her love, love, love, love, love…
12 days to go and Gemma receives her wedding invitation.
Ah!
Oh, my God! "Together with our parents, Luke Nathan Alcott invites you to share in our love and happiness "as we exchange vows of marriage and begin our new life together."
Wow!
Wow!
In the excitement, Gemma has failed to notice Luke's choice of colour.
Amazing!
Got myself and everything.
Has he?
This has been stuck on.
The problem is staring her in the face, but she still hasn't twigged.
I'm really excited about the big day.
It's really happening.
It doesn't give me any clue to what…
It doesn't give you any clue to whether there's a theme or not, apart from the fucking colours.
Ding-dong!
Claret and blue.
Oh, dear.
I've only just noticed that.
Oh, my God!
Oh, I really hope not.
That's not good.
That's Villa colours on there - claret and blue.
Look.
Oh, my goodness!
Get married in a dress that's claret…
It's not even funny.
It'll look tasteless, tacky and horrible.
I'll be really angry.
Not even the Villa anthem as you walk down the aisle?
No.
You're annoying me now.
Shut up!
It won't be those colours.
It'll be Bryan winding you up.
It'll just be your invitation with those colours.
It'll look horrible.
Yeah, it will look quite nasty.
It will.
There's a time and a place for football and it's not at my wedding.
I quite like blue and burgundy!
When she's going back up the aisle, everyone'll be chanting, "One-nil, one-nil! "Who are ya?"
It's gonna be funny.
It will be funny if it's football.
Why are you expecting it to be funny?
We're just making light of a serious situation.
You're making light of MY serious situation.
It'll be lovely.
Not if it's claret and blue, it won't.
You're not singing any more!
Today, Luke is swapping football for Footloose.
It's the first rehearsal for his big dance showpiece.
This is one of the things I'm looking forward to most.
All the other stuff is girly.
This is me.
I'm really excited.
I can't wait.
It's like when you're a kid and you can't sleep the night before Christmas.
I haven't had that feeling for a long time.
His brothers have reluctantly agreed to back his strange choice of entertainment without really knowing what they're letting themselves in for.
Oh, heck!
Is this what we've got to do?
Oh, just give it a go.
Everybody…
It's soon clear they're in trouble.
Backstreet's back all right…
Between his DIY dance routine and his colour scheme, Gemma's dream for an elegant wedding is going to stay just that - a dream.
Now throw your hands up in the air
Backstreet's back all right!
At Tessa's place, the stressed-out bride has reached breaking point.
Just usually I'm in control of every situation and I'm not and it's really hard to adapt to.
You can only sit and wonder.
That's the worst thing.
It doesn't seem real because I don't know any of the plans.
I can't look forward to them because I don't know what they are.
You imagine this picture in your head, but you're not sure if it'll be the same as the picture, so you can't get excited about a picture that may not be the same.
At night-time sometimes you think, "I'm gonna dream about this."
I always try and dream about what I'll look like on my wedding day, but I've just got this blank picture, thinking, "God, what AM I gonna look like?"
I just wanna know cos it really is hard and it's so stressful.
It's really getting to me now.
It's the end of week two and Luke is facing his biggest challenge yet - getting the bridesmaids to wear claret and blue.
Up until now, Tessa has been convinced the colours on the invitation were a wind-up.
Here come the girls…
Shall we reveal the colour?
Shall we reveal the colour?
Yeah, reveal the colour.
Oh, my God!
Do you understand what that means?
That is Aston Villa.
She will go mad.
No way.
You can't do Aston Villa.
I'll do what I want.
Right, you hold this one.
They're disgusting.
Yeah.
I'm not wearing that.
Look at the state of it!
This one's nice.
I like this shorter version of it.
That is so much nicer.
You're not going to a prom.
You're going to a wedding.
This is a prom dress, Luke.
The girls hate the dress and they're determined to fight it out.
You're ruining my day.
No way.
I'm not wearing it.
I'm not wearing it.
No way.
I'm begging you for mercy…
Do you wanna see, Luke?
Yes, please.
If you laugh, it means you don't like it.