The wedding crasher mystery solved after four years

Michelle and John Wylie married at a boutique hotel on the south coast of South Ayrshire in November 2014, surrounded by family, friends, and one complete stranger. The couple discovered the mystery wedding crasher only after they were shown pictures of their big day – a tall man in a dark suit with a noticeable look of confusion on his face. They quizzed relatives, acquaintances, and employees at the restaurant, as well as questioning the wedding photographer about the guest. No-one could provide any answers. However, the elusive man has now been identified after an internet sleuth joined the hunt. Andrew Hillhouse, who was supposed to attend another wedding two miles away, told BBC Scotland News that he only realized he was at the wrong place when the bride walked down the aisle.

Michelle and John were married at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick on November 20, 2021, surrounded by family and friends, or so they thought.

We didn't know who's who was shooting the first few photos back from the photographer and myself, and my husband were looking at them

says the photographer. ',recalls Michelle, who lives in Kilmarnock.We started asking our parents first, then moved through my aunties and the rest of the family, then my relatives. Absolutely no-one knew who he was.

We could have continued to the Carlton Hotel if they had an idea,

the narrator said, but nope. We wondered if this was someone who had been assisting with the registration down, but no one knew who it was.

A Facebook post by the bride did not have any responses, and as time went on trying to solve the mystery, the bride's quest for answers fell by the wayside. Michelle, on the other hand, told the BBC that it was niggling away at the back of her mind. It will come into my head and I'd be likesomeone must know who this guy is. A few times to my husband, 'are you positive you don't know this guy,' is it maybe from your job? "We wondered if he was a mad stalker. Other possibilities included a new niece of the daughter of family friends or someone assisting wedding photographer Steven Withers. Dazza, the man's appeal to content creator Dazza who has been begging them to post their pictures and attempt to track down the wedding's location, has revealed the man’s identity.

Andrew Hillhouse was running late for a wedding on Saturday, the same Saturday in November 2021. He arrived at the venue he'd been directed to come to, hurried in, and took his seat with five minutes to spare. David was supposed to be among the wedding party, and Andrew was relieved to be there on time. It was when the bridal party began walking down the aisle that a sinking feeling crept in.

I assumed David was in another room with the bride, so the music starts, everyone turns around to look at the bride and the second I see her I'm like, 'oh no, that's not Michaela,'

says the bride's I's in the second. ',he says.But at that point, because you can't walk out of a wedding in progress, so I figured I'd better double down. I'm 6 foot 2in and I'am taller than most people, so I was trying to hunch down a bit and get out the way.

I was just sitting here thinking, 'Please, let this be over with,'

says the author.

Andrew's partner had completely wrong venue - the wedding he was supposed to attend was at the Great Western Hotel in Ayr. He knew his partner and the bride to be, which is why he didn't raise his eyebrows at not knowing any other people in attendance.

There was a piper outside, and all these well dressed people were, so I assumed I was in the right place.

Andrew, a Troon native, was about to leave to phone David but he couldn't get away right now.

I make a beeline for the doors and hear, 'will we get everyone together for a picture?

and I was just going 'noooo' inside. "You can see my big head in the back row, trying to get out the way.

Andrew was finally able to get out, although he admitted to consuming a glass of cola on the way. He phoned his partner to ask where they were, but it wasn't until he realized how far away he had been sent that he'd been sent.

They told me they were taking pictures at the fountain, and I'm wondering where is this fountain? Eventually, I asked where they were, and he tells me they're at the hotel in Ayr.

He was then able to attend the real wedding he was planning to attend, where his mishap provided a fun tale for the other guests.

Then a friend sent him the social media appeal, and he was able to explain online why he appeared on four years ago. Andrew's explanation for his accidental gate-crashing onDazza's social media page attracted more than 600 views and over 29,000 likes. In addition, it has brought him in touch with Michelle - the bride's niece - and they've since met in person to share a laugh about their strange friendship. I could not stop laughing, says Michelle.

We can't believe we've found out who he is after almost four years.

Michelle said I'd been haunting her for years,Andrew adds.It was much quicker to crash a wedding than I'd expected – I was in and out like an assassin even though I only had a bottle of cola to drink.