Couple get MARRIED in Pizza Express after pal planned secret wedding
Maddie Jones, 29 and Alex Sung, 30, met on Tinder in 2016 and were told they'd won a free meal
THIS loved-up couple got married in Pizza Express after their pal planned a secret wedding – complete with a dough ball heart cake.
Maddie Jones, 29 and Alex Sung, 30, were nominated by a friend who spotted the chain’s offer for an all-expenses-paid wedding and honeymoon in Italy on Facebook.
Natasha Killip, who’s been Maddie’s best friend for 14 years, admitted she felt “panicked” when Maddie and Alex were chosen as the winners, knowing the pressure was on to plan their dream day.
The couple were told they’d won a free dinner at the London restaurant and had no idea they were on their way to their wedding, until waitress Milly Threw said: “I have had a crazy idea, why don’t you get married today?”
When Milly explained the couple’s friends and family were already on their way to the restaurant, on Russia Way in the City, primary school teacher Maddie and electrician Alex agreed to instantly tie the knot.
Within hours, the restaurant was converted into a wedding venue 30 seats for guests who’d travelled from as far as Cumbria and Durham – where the couple are from.
Maddie chose her dream dress from a choice of 16 options and was whisked off to have her hair and make-up done while Alex got a quick shave and trim. They were married at 6pm, by celebrant Sheron Burt.
Maddie said: “It was an amazing day, of course a bit of a shock initially but the whole thing was lovely.
“We love pizza, so the wedding food was perfect, and the giant dough ball heart shaped wedding cake was an absolute showstopper.
“I can’t say a big enough thank you to Natasha for her secret planning and of course to Pizza Express for bringing everyone together to make this happen.”
Wedding planner Natasha, 29, added: “I put them forward and didn’t think any more of it, so when the confirmation came through I was a little panicked.
“Planning the whole wedding and keeping it all a surprise was somewhat daunting, but the whole day was so unique and magical.
“It was fantastic to be able to bring all Maddie and Alex’s loved ones together for such a special celebration.”
Maddie and Alex met on Tinder in 2016, with the groom proposing at the top of New York’s Rockefeller Centre in 2017.
After selecting the couple, organisers quickly got in touch with Natasha to set the wedding plans in motion.
Natasha worked closely with a surprise wedding production team, led by expert wedding planner Ann Nicholas, to tailor every aspect of the day, including secretly inviting all the couple’s friends and family.
The wedding was complete with confetti cannons, sparklers, a live jazz band and even a giant dough ball heart shaped wedding cake, created especially by renowned baker, Juliet Sears.
The event also marks 50 years of Pizza Express.
The brand is now considering licensing a number of its pizzerias to become wedding venues, to allow more of its super fans to say “I Dough” over a slice of their favourite pizza.
In more relationship news, this scorned woman sold her wedding dress online to fund divorce from ‘compulsive liar’ husband and joked ‘the train is longer than my marriage’.