Demi Doody, 27, has wanted a big wedding dress since she was a child and had even picked out the exact dress. But when it came to marrying her partner Jake Doody, 29, she decided to throw her plans overboard.

So they spent £56 on a civil ceremony. After the 15-minute ceremony, they went about their daily lives – Jake went to work as a floor fitter and Demi to the gym – before surprising their three children with the news that evening.

To celebrate the day, the family hosted a movie night with Indian takeaway food – and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Demi, a stay-at-home mom, said: “I wanted it to be just the two of us.

“I didn’t want anyone to ruin my wedding.

“We got married on a Wednesday at 10am in my gym clothes and Jake in his work clothes.

“We have the money to get married the way I wanted.

“But going out and spending that much in one day – I didn’t see the point.”

Demi and Jake, the owner of a flooring company, met through BBM 12 years ago and hit it off.

The couple started a family and got engaged when Jake bought Demi a ring for Christmas in December 2021.

Demi said: “He gave me a ring for Christmas and I said, ‘What is that?’

“I said, ‘I’ll just say it’s an engagement ring.’ And from then on, we told everyone we were engaged.”

Demi had originally wanted a big wedding.

She said: “Ever since I was a child, I always wanted this wedding dress. I already knew which wedding dress I wanted.

“But as I got older, I thought, ‘I’m not the type for such a big wedding.’

“I’m nervous around other people. When our families start drinking, people start arguing – I don’t want to get involved in that.”

Demi suggested having a simple civil wedding – just the two of them.

She said: “It’s about saying yes. Jake said, ‘Are you sure? We’re only doing this once.’

“He said, ‘You deserve this day.’ I deserve the day I want.”

Demi and Jake kept their wedding a secret and asked Demi’s sister Katie Wilkes, 30, and her friend Emma, ​​29, to come and visit them in August last year.

The couple acted as their witnesses.

Demi said: “At first I thought I was going to get a beautiful white dress, but then I thought, ‘What’s the point of 15 minutes?’.

“My partner was wearing work clothes and I was wearing my sports clothes.

“I told my sister it was an emergency and to come. Then I told her I was getting married. She couldn’t believe it.

“I was absolutely thrilled about the vows.

“It is our memory. No one else has this memory.”

After the ceremony, the newlyweds went their separate ways, but were reunited in the evening with their children Jayden (11), Frankie-Lee (7) and Bailey-George (5).

Demi said: “I decorated the living room with blankets. I got lots of candy.

“I told the children when they came back and they couldn’t believe it.

“We put on a horror film and then ordered an Indian.”

Demi said some of her family members were “angry” and “disappointed,” but she reminded them that it was her day and she should celebrate it however she wanted.

The couple have instead put their savings into renovating their home, but hope to go on a big honeymoon together one day.

She said: “Nobody believed us.

“They thought it was a fake.

“£56 for saying ‘I do’ – that’s a bonus in my opinion!”