Video blunder ‘ruined couple’s wedding’

For Leeds couple Craig and Rona Holdsworth, it is unlikely they will be reaching for the remote control any time soon.

The pair say their nuptials were ruined after hiring a Harrogate videographer who filmed the wrong wedding at their ceremony at Leeds Register Office, then apologised by giving them a “shockingly amateurish” DVD of their reception which did not contain their first dance, featured people smoking and multiple shots of the ceiling.

HGV driver Mr Holdsworth, 39, said: “He assured us that he would be with us a good hour before the wedding to film everyone arriving. But as the time neared there was no sign of him, so my best man tried to call his mobile, which wasn’t ringing.

“It wasn’t what you needed minutes before your wedding. There was no one booked in the room after us so we delayed the wedding for him to turn up.

“We went ahead knowing it wasn’t being filmed. Afterwards we got to the reception and he was there.

“I was angry but didn’t want to make a scene on my wedding day, so I just told him we would sort things out later and told him to film the reception.”

A week after their ceremony they drove to the videographer Andy Rowson’s studio in Harrogate to complain.

Mr Rowson gave them £250 of their money back, but claimed £62 for expenses for filming the reception at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford.

Mr Rowson blamed the register office for the mix-up and claimed that Mr Holdsworth had watched the full DVD with him and given it the thumbs up, something the bridegroom denies.

“I knew I had missed Craig and Rona’s wedding so I went to their reception,” Mr Rowson said.

“I apologised profusely for the mistake to them and they said I should still film the reception and I did.

“I stand by my work at the reception.

“It was all professionally done and of course I wasn’t disruptive. I’ve done 100 weddings in the last four years without a single complaint.

“Because I had missed the ceremony I agreed to give them almost all of their money back except a little bit for expenses such as my petrol.

“As far as I was concerned I’d explained everything to them and they were happy with what I had done. I’m surprised to hear of their complaints and I would be happy to discuss it all with them.”