couple who booked their wedding reception at a rugby stadium are left heartbroken when it is cancelled with just a week's notice so that the hull team's game can be shown on sky sports
A couple are 'heartbroken' after being told by email their wedding reception was cancelled because a rugby match was rescheduled so it could be shown on Sky Sports.
David Crooks and Kerry Armstrong, who have been together for 11 years, can't now walk down the aisle next Saturday after 'working tirelessly' to pay for their big day.
But their excitement was crushed after waking up yesterday to a 'blunt' email from Hull College Craven Park confirming their wedding reception was cancelled.
Mr Crooks, 36, and Ms Armstrong, 38, got engaged five years ago and decided to wait until they were financially stable and their children were older.
The couple planned to hold the ceremony at the Guildhall followed by a reception at the home of Hull Kingston Rovers.
On Thursday morning, just nine days before the big day, they received an email from Hull KR which read: 'I'm sorry to have to write you this email, but as of last night we were informed by Sky that we now have to move our game that was on September 12 to September 11, which is the day of your reception.
David Crooks and Kerry Armstrong, who have been together for 11 years, couldn't wait to walk down the aisle tomorrow after 'working tirelessly' to pay for their big day
The couple booked their reception at Hull Kingston Rovers. The club emailed them yesterday to say their venue would not be available for tomorrow's wedding
'This means unfortunately that we cannot hold your reception here at the club.
'We do apologise and this is not a decision we have made lightly, but unfortunately it is out of our hands. We will of course refund you all of your payments made, if you could please send us your bank details.
'Again we do truly apologise for any inconvenience this will cause you.'
Castleford Tigers away match against Hull KR has been moved forward one day and will broadcast live on Sky Sports next Saturday, interrupting the devastated couple's wedding.
Mr Crooks confessed he has never been happier than with Ms Armstrong, and the pair are in 'complete shock' about the cancellation.
He shared: 'The thing is Hull KR just don't seem to care really. I don't complain about a lot but this is heartbreaking.
'They keep blaming the fact that they have new people taking over. It got to the point where we didn't even know who was running our wedding reception. We had to deal with about eight different people in the end.
The couple were told yesterday that tomorrow's wedding reception was cancelled
'They are just kind of like "it is what it is". They didn't even have the decency to call us either - it's our wedding day.
'There's no excuse for it. They're just like "sorry bye". We put our heart and soul into the whole day
'Kerry is so upset and I want to console her but I have to work after spending so much on the wedding. We're not rich you see we have had to work hard for this.'
Spending £200 on invitations alone, the couple had family and friends coming to Hull from different areas of the country.
Mr Crooks said the pair have worked very hard throughout the last year to save £6,000 to spend on everything they want for the wedding.
Now, they are left with no reception spot and are pleading with local venues to get in touch to host their big day on September 11.
'I'm hoping we can reach out to venues to help us as all I know is we are getting married on that day,' he said.
'I don't honestly know what we will do if we can't get a venue.
'We've been together 11 years so it's time now. Kerry means everything to me. She helped me to become who I am.'
He added: 'We both know what it is like to be in other relationships - but this one there's nothing like it.
'She's so genuine. She's like no one I have ever met in my life. We will get married on that day no matter what.'
Hull KR declined to comment when contacted.