Love is in the air for wedding planner

Amy who is the wedding co-ordinator at the Casa in Brighouse, was left stunned when Joel whipped out a diamond engagement ring and asked her to marry him, after nearly 10 years together.

Joel wanted to make it a proposal to remember and decided to enlist the help of folk band Stornoway who were playing at the Trades Club in Hebden Bridge. 
“I’d tweeted the band but had no luck so I called entertainments manager Mal Campbell at the Trades Club and asked if he could help me out,” said Joel, who is a teacher in Ossett. “I’d left it really late until 5pm on the day, but Mal spoke to the band.

“He came back and said wait until the fifth song, so I was totally panicking throughout the first few songs in case they forgot.”

But as lead singer Brian Briggs introduced new song ‘You Take Me As I Am’ he said: “This song is about marriage and I believe Joel has something to ask Amy.”

The 25-year-old whipped out the ring and to his relief she said yes as the crowd offered their congratulations.

Amy said she didn’t suspect anything. “We have been going out about nine or ten years so I have been hinting forever but he has always been very sly about it and said your time will come but he never gave anything away. I wasn’t expecting it on Friday.

“I was gobsmacked. It was a such a massive shock. Of course I was going to say yes, but thanks to Stornoway, who I love, and the Trades for making it a night to remember for both of us.”

Amy said that she did think Joel, who she met while at school at Heckmondwike Grammar School, was acting a little strange on the night. “He kept his jacket on all night because he had the ring box in his pocket and he didn’t want to risk losing it. I did think you weirdo why don’t you take your jacket off.”

The 23-year-old said it had been a crazy few days but she was looking forward to making plans. “I can’t even remember the band playing. I was absolutely amazed. I couldn’t stop crying, then laughing and then crying again. But we both said we need to book and go and see the band again.

“We are planning on getting married sooner rather than later so we are looking forward to having a noisey around and working out our budget.”

After the gig the newly engaged couple who have just bought their own house in Cleckheaton thanked the band for being such good sports.

Lead singer in the band Brian said: “We were only too happy to help out and in fact this is the second time we’ve done a marriage proposal; from the stage. The other time was at Glastonbury, and it was for friends, so this time we didn’t know if it would work out. Thankfully it did as it would have been a bit awkward for the rest of the gig and they are a lovely couple.”

It was the first time The Trades has ever had a successful marriage proposal during a concert.