For us, it started when Chad, who used to manage Derek’s triplex, told us about an idea he and his best friend were cooking up. He wondered if Free-FM, and specifically Derek and I, would like to be a part of it. We got excited about it and it launched on Friday night.
Chad’s best friend wanted to surprise his fiancee by marrying her in Victoria Park in front of hundreds of friends, family and total strangers.
On air, we asked people to join us in Victoria Park to be part of London’s Biggest Flash Mob, 7 pm sharp on Friday night. People started milling into the park half an hour before. We had to ask a martial arts group to move, and talk nicely to a band in the bandshell that was rehearsing for a prayer gathering, due to start at 7, and with everyone coordinated, the games began!
A local company installed GoPro cameras in the trees and a couple of photographers strolled the area snapping photos. A local music store put up a huge sound system. Another company came and put up a riser for us to use as a stage. Family members huddled behind a WW2 tank and put together a white arbour decorated with pink and white balloons. A volunteer handed out numbered tickets to everyone who arrived. The weather was perfect and the evening was electric. Would we pull it off without Anne catching on to the plan? Blair strolled around and took photos and video.
At precisely 7 pm Derek and I grabbed our mics and asked everybody to dance as we blasted Pharrell Williams’ Happy. It was a beautiful sight. People of all ages boogied to the song and it’s one that everybody knows by now. Several dozen family members of the bride and groom stayed tucked away through the whole thing. Kory had texted Anne’s ticket number to Chad, who had whispered it to me earlier, so when Derek asked me to pick a number, I chose – at “random” – 74. A squeal came up from the crowd as Anne scurried to the stage to collect her prize. “Are you here with anyone?”, Derek asked. With that, Kory was brought up as well. We informed them we’d have to blindfold them before we could reveal what they had won. With the couple’s eyes covered, family and friends scurried out, assembled the arbour on the stage and took their places. The minister climbed up and took a microphone. As the murmurs in the crowd got louder Derek announced, “Welcome to London’s first ever, surprise, flash mob wedding!”
Anne whipped off her mask and started to cry! The cheer that rose from the mob was something I will never forget.
The ceremony was brief and beautiful. Anne was shaking, Kory was beaming and the family were over the moon. Tears slid down my face as we all applauded this wonderful couple, strangers to us until that night. We had pulled it off. She had no idea. It was perfect and I’m so glad we got to play a part in it.
Excellent, excellent, excellent, what more can be said, than excellent and a memory for a life time!
That is FANTASTIC! Thanks for sharing – I’m so glad you guys helped make it such an incredible event. Wow. Well done!