Kayley Stead, who was left at the altar in 2022, has revealed she is now engaged to Richard, a man she has known for over a decade, and plans to marry him on Friday 13th. She shared her story on Monday's Good Morning Britain with hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls.
Wedding Day Without a Groom
Stead was supposed to marry her 'perfect match' in 2022, but when he did not show up, she decided to proceed with the celebration anyway. Clips of her enjoying the reception in her bridal gown, complete with speeches and dancing, went viral online.
Discussing how things are different now, Stead said: "This dress is completely different but represents me, a 31-year-old woman rather than I was 27 at the time. I've changed, I've grown, styles have changed."
Finding Love Again
After the initial wedding, Richard reached out to Stead after learning she had been jilted. "At the time, everybody was sending floods of messages because nobody would expect anybody to be left at the altar, it only happens in movies. And he expressed his apologies, his mum reached out, his dad reached out," she explained.
Stead had met Richard at university. He gave her a year after the wedding to "find herself" before asking her out. "He went, we're going on a date, it's about time, a risk it for a biscuit type of situation, he booked us an Air B&B," she revealed. She added: "When he walked in and I saw him again, it was like butterflies, he went in for a kiss which I didn't know and I dodged. So he thought that [I thought] I'd made a big mistake and didn't want any of this but luckily for him, I did."
A Superstitious Wedding Date
Stead chose Friday 13th for her wedding, explaining: "I've always lived at number 13 my whole life, it's my childhood. And unknowingly, we've actually known each other for 13 years this year, so it was fate." She added: "I went through the worst possible experience of a wedding the last time, so it couldn't get any worse, I think. The groom is going to be there, but everything else will probably go wrong, knowing my luck!"
During the show, Richard sent a pre-recorded video message reassuring her that she didn't "need to worry one bit", confirming he would be there on their big day.
Hope and Happy Endings
Stead also reflected on her first wedding, saying: "It was a great party, I'm glad I had no groom because I got to enjoy my bar, got to drink plenty of tequila." She praised Richard, noting: "He's a great man. He actually asked me out in the first year of university but I said no, and then, I asked him out in third year, but he said no, because he thought, I need to get some back."
Ed Balls called it "a story of hope", while Susanna Reid remarked: "Sometimes you're in your darkest moment, and actually, you can completely turn it around and it can deliver your most happy experience." Stead concluded: "It was all meant to be."
