Mum who forked out £37k on weddings and divorces to tie the knot for fifth time
THE emotional rollercoaster of divorce is often enough to put women off tying the knot again. But not for Sarah Brett, who has been married four times.
The 51-year-old carer admits she’s “addicted to weddings” — and is already planning her FIFTH one.
Sarah has forked out £28,000 on tying the knot — and £9,000 on divorces.
She says: “Some of my friends tell me I’m addicted to weddings. Others say I’m addicted to love.
“They might be right but to me, every time I’ve got married, it’s felt like it would be for ever. It’s just not turned out that way.
“I never set out to have multiple marriages — or multiple divorces — but I’ve never lost hope in the joy and love weddings bring.
“My mum always told me you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince — my problem was I married them instead.”
Sarah wed first husband Nick in 1985 when she was 18 and he was 20.
She says: “We worked in the same factory in Portsmouth. He proposed after six months and then just six months later we got married.
“I was so excited. I wore a big white dress and had eight bridesmaids — each of them wearing different colour to form a rainbow.
“We married in a church in front of 80 guests then had a finger buffet.
“The day cost £8,000 and was absolutely beautiful.
“My son Daniel was born in December 1986 and everything was going well for the first three years — but then it started to fall apart.
“We realised we had married way too young.
“We wanted to live separate lives as young adults, so we filed for divorce in 1989 and it set me back £2,300.”
But Sarah was determined to find love elsewhere — and quickly.
She says: “It took me a year to meet my second husband, Paul. He owned the cornershop across the road from my house.
“Most weeks I’d pop in to buy bridal magazines and the paper.
“He asked if I was planning a wedding and when I said no, he laughed and it started a conversation.
“We began dating in March 1990 and, just three weeks later, he proposed.
“I fell pregnant with my daughter, Zoe, now 27, four months later.
“Before the wedding, we lived apart as he had his flat above the shop and I only lived across the road.
“I was just as excited planning my second wedding, as I knew how magical it could be. This time I opted for the Portsmouth Registry Office and 40 people came to our house for the reception.
“Two-piece wedding dresses were in fashion so I bought one from Marks & Spencer.
“The whole day cost £6,500.
“He moved in with me but it immediately caused problems. We hadn’t realised how different we were.
“Six months later, we called time on the marriage and divorced in 1993, costing £2,600.
“I was sad to be divorced again so soon but I was so busy being a mum to two kids, I didn’t have time to wallow.
“I also knew it was possible to find love again after divorce, as I’d already done it once.”
Sarah spent the next three years focusing on her children before allowing friends to set her up on dates.
But it was in the lonely hearts column in the local newspaper that Sarah found husband No3.
She says: “Me and my best friend Spence Thomas put adverts for each other in the paper. He got three replies, but I got 52. The second man I called was a taxi driver and ten years older than me.
“We set up a date and he was a total gentleman.
“We saw each other nearly every day for five months until he proposed.
“Friends had been making comments about having to attend yet another wedding, so I went for a smaller do.
“I opted for a gold-sheath dress costing £1,000. Some friends asked if they could wear the same dress they wore to my last wedding to save money, which was hilarious. This day cost £5,000.
“We were happily married for ten years, but then started growing apart. I fought it for a while but then we hated being around each other.
“We divorced in 2006 and it cost £3,000.”
But this didn’t deter Sarah from finding The One and she turned to online dating. Sarah, from Swindon, Wilts, says: “Dating sites weren’t around after my other divorces, but this time it was so easy to meet single men.
“I was matched with engineer Sean in September 2006.
“After messaging for two weeks, we met for the first time. We were older so things moved fast and he proposed after four months.
“Sean had never been married before so it was the perfect excuse to have a big wedding.
'SOULMATES'
“I've never been one for long engagements.
“I chose a white off-the-shoulder two-piece with flower hair accessories. I never feel more beautiful than on a wedding day.
“We spent £8,500 on the event, with 60 guests and a hot buffet at a hotel. We moved to Dorset together and the first few years of marriage were romantic but I started to feel lonely without friends and family nearby. It put pressure on us.”
Her daughter Zoe married in 2016 and Sarah loved being the mother of the bride. But secretly her own marriage was crumbling.
Not being the bride was new for me, it made me long for another wedding of my own,” she said. “After ten years together, I couldn’t take it any more and Sean and I got a £1,500 divorce.
“I immediately moved to Swindon to be near friends and continued my search for Mr Right.”
In August 2018, Sarah met landscape gardener Ashley Comley, 55, on a dating website.
She says: “He lived locally and we clicked. He proposed with a sapphire ring in December and told me I deserved the biggest wedding.
“We’ve set a date for September 2020. We’re having a sit-down meal at a golf club, with DJ.
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“It’s the most expensive wedding yet for me, costing £15,000 but I know Ashley and I are soulmates. When I told Zoe I was getting married for a fifth time, she was thrilled.
“Daniel has been more critical of my marriages but he has given me his blessing since meeting Ashley.”
Ashley says: “It doesn’t put me off that Sarah has been divorced four times, those men just weren’t right for her.
“I have promised her a big white wedding — and that’s what she’ll get.”
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