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Couple spend £40k on three weddings in Maidstone after groom's divorce papers don't come through

A loved up couple - dubbed Mr and Mrs Right - spent more than £40,000 to get married three times.

Self-confessed wedding addict Cassandra Baker, 45, wore four dresses as she tied the knot multiple times to her dream man Danny, 43, in Maidstone.

Cassandra Baker, 45, from Bromley, and Danny Baker, 43, from Maidstone, spent more than £40,000 to get married three times. Picture: Steve Ayres
Cassandra Baker, 45, from Bromley, and Danny Baker, 43, from Maidstone, spent more than £40,000 to get married three times. Picture: Steve Ayres

Danny, from the town, and Cassandra, from Bromley, ended up having three separate ceremonies after a series of mix-ups.

The pair met on an internet dating website after the salon owne drew up a wish list of her ideal man.

"Handsome, with dark hair and dark eyes, down to earth, very kind, well-dressed, a DIY man, intelligent and he loves to travel," Cassandra wrote.

After chatting for months during lockdown the duo got engaged a year after they first met in person, with Danny proposing by putting a ring in a Jägermeister shot glass.

Cassandra, who is mum to Saffron, 10, and nine-year-old George, said: “After waiting my whole life to get married, it felt amazing to be a bride three times and wear four fabulous dresses, inspired by my love of Barbies, ballerinas and princesses.”

The couple spent £10,000 to get married at Leeds Castle. Picture: Steve Ayres
The couple spent £10,000 to get married at Leeds Castle. Picture: Steve Ayres
Danny popped the question by putting a ring at the bottom of a Jägermeister shot glass. Picture: Steve Ayres
Danny popped the question by putting a ring at the bottom of a Jägermeister shot glass. Picture: Steve Ayres

After putting down a £10,000 deposit for Leeds Castle, near Maidstone, she started planning for her big day, including designing her own dress.

She said: “It had to feature pink lace with hand-stitched Swarovski crystals and a big pink lace bow because pink is my favourite colour.

“It had rows of pink pearls at the back and an elegant fishtail.”

As well as three ceremonies the bride celebrated with her friends and family at three hen parties.

The first, a girls' weekend in Edinburgh, followed by a meal out for 30 people and visit to Nobu, before heading to The Dorchester in London.

However, things weren't always plain sailing for the loved-up couple.

A week before the wedding in August last year the couple found out Danny's divorce papers from his last marriage hadn't come through, so they couldn't actually get married.

Cassandra explained: “He’d signed them months earlier and we could see online that a decree nisi had been granted but the court hadn’t processed the paperwork.

'I love being the centre of attention...'

“We hired a solicitor and even paid extra for it to be fast-tracked, but it was no use. I was so gutted.

“We couldn’t get the deposit back and I didn’t want to lose the money or upset the guests, but the venue explained we could have a blessing, which would look exactly the same as an ‘official’ wedding.”

Cassandra's son George walked her down the aisle on the first of their big days, before she exchanged rings and vows with Danny in front of their loved ones.

Keen to make the marriage official the couple booked a second wedding, this time on the Kentish Lady river boat in October.

After being assured divorce papers had gone through the couple were looking forward to their official big day, but were left disappointed again.

Cassandra Baker with her son George who her walked her down the aisle at her weddings. Picture: Steve Ayres
Cassandra Baker with her son George who her walked her down the aisle at her weddings. Picture: Steve Ayres

Heartbroken Cassandra said: “I couldn’t believe it had happened for a second time.

"Again, we thought about cancelling but we didn’t want to disappoint the guests or lose out financially.

“The kids said, ‘But you already got married’. They didn’t understand.”

But nevertheless, Cassandra organised another hen do and the pair invited 50 guests to their wedding on the water.

This time around, Cassandra wore a knee-length white satin dress with a tulle princess skirt, white sash and white bow, topped off with a silver tiara.

The loved up pair met on a dating website and spoke during lockdown. Picture: Steve Ayres
The loved up pair met on a dating website and spoke during lockdown. Picture: Steve Ayres

After two disappointments it was third time lucky for the Kent couple, who tied the knot officially at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone in January this year.

Describing the day, Cassandra, who donned a fitted white dress with Japanese lace and pearls, said: “I certainly had a case of déjà vu but it felt amazing to finally do it.

The couple pent more than £40,000 on their weddings, with Danny taking on extra jobs and working seven days a week to pay for it all.

But Cassandra has no regrets, adding said: “I love being the centre of attention. I’m so pleased to have had the best day of my life not once, but three times.”

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