Church wedding ceremonies tend to have stricter rules, but that didn’t stop the guests at one Irish wedding from going off-script last year with an impromptu performance dedicated to the bride and groom.
And not only did it bring the couple to tears, but most of its over 1 million viewers too (and our screen might have gone a little blurry as well).
Shane and Rachel McNally have some seriously talented friends. And when their pal Hannah O’Brien realized that their wedding would have so many singers present, she decided to plan a beautiful surprise for the couple.
The wedding at St. Joseph’s Church in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, turned into an impromptu concert as guests performed a beautiful rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me.” (This song was quite a surprise at the royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as well.)
At many Catholic ceremonies, the couple is seated while the priest speaks and the McNallys are in their chairs as their first guest stands up and sings the opening lines of the song.
Some people clearly know what’s happening, but others look around confused.
Then a second singer stands.
It’s clear that this is going to be quite a moment as the third singer stands up – and we’re not entirely sure how big this is going to get.
But it gets big!
Over a dozen guests stand in the pews and belt out a beautiful rendition of the song.
Both the bride and groom wipe away tears at the amazing gesture. It’s a truly beautiful moment.
Then, the singers slowly move to the altar and arrange themselves in a chorus to serenade the bride and groom.
Ray Yore, the wedding videographer, wrote in his Facebook post of the video “I’ve never seen anything like this done before and I’ve been to A LOT of weddings.”
O’Brien told the Irish Mirror that she wanted to do something special for the bride and groom who love music so much:
“I asked family and friends from both sides and we held secret rehearsals for 5 weeks running up to the big day with [the band] Starling Blue teaching the harmonies and melody.”
And the guests nailed it! Even the flower girls and ring bearer got involved (although they seemed a little less enthusiastic).
As you might imagine, the couple was overwhelmed. It’s hard to see their faces throughout the performance, but they clearly had no idea this was going to happen.
O’Brien said the wedding performance was a “special moment that we will all cherish forever.”
And commenters were touched as well – many saying that they got goosebumps watching the scene unfold while others were brought to tears.
“As I am watching this and wiping the tears from my face I can’t think of a more heartfelt lovely song and the families love for the newlyweds congrats,” said one viewer.
Of course, plenty of people also joked that if their own families had tried to pull off such a stunt, the results would have been very different.
“If this was my family I would be crying because my ears would be in pain lol.”
That’s probably true for many of us – that’s why we hire people to sing at weddings!
Be sure to scroll down below to see the beautiful serenade – and get your tissues ready!
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