Emmerdale’s most memorable weddings from helicopter terror to kidnapping
As Aaron and John prepare to wed as Emmerdale’s 119th couple, there will, of course, be some twists and turns along the way. From the first civil partnership in 2008 to fiery crashes and family drama, Emmerdale weddings are always unforgettable moments
Aaron Dingle and John Sugden’s wedding fast approaches on Emmerdale(Image: ITV)
Aaron and John are set to become the 119th couple to tie the knot on Emmerdale, and one thing the show doesn’t do is boring weddings.
Over the years, Emmerdale has served up some seriously unforgettable weddings packed with romance, drama, and, let’s be honest, more than a fair share of disaster.
Back in 2008, well before same-sex marriage was even legal in the UK, Paul Lambert and Aussie Jonny Foster made soap history by having the first-ever civil partnership on a prime-time show.
Same-sex marriage didn’t become legal until 2013 in the UK, with the first weddings in 2014, but Emmerdale was already breaking ground, showcasing gay marriages as early as 2012 and civil partnerships before this. Now, with Aaron and John’s big day on the horizon, the soap continues to champion love in all its forms.
As fans prepare for the latest big day, let’s take a look back at some of the most iconic and explosive nuptials the village has ever seen.
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Kim Tate arrived to her third wedding on a horse taking inspiration from the original episode from 1972
Memorable weddings
The first wedding: Janie Harker and Frank Blakey (1973)
The very first wedding on Emmerdale saw Janie Harker marry Frank Blakey in March 1973. Janie fell pregnant the following year. After her sister Pat’s return, the whole family decided to leave the village, closing that chapter early on.
So good, they did it twice: Paddy and Mandy Dingle (1999, 2024)
A fan favourite, Paddy and Mandy have shared two weddings, their first in 1999 and a second ceremony in August 2024. The couple remain one of Emmerdale’s beloved duos who have endured through thick and thin.
Three rings, three weddings and one Kim Tate (1994, 1998, 2022)
The formidable Kim Tate has tied the knot three times: first with Frank in December 1994, then Steve Marchant in May 1998 and finally Will Taylor in 2022, who tragically d.i.e.d at Christmas.
Kim’s third wedding was part of the show’s 50th anniversary. Emmerdale’s villainous Kim Tate was seen riding on horseback through the village to the church.
Director Ian Bevitt told theMirrorthat the 50th anniversary episode took inspiration from the original episode from 1972, he said: “It started with Lady of the Manor Marian Wilks riding a white horse, and that’s why we have Kim arriving at her wedding in a similar way.”
Charity tried to ruin Chas and Paddy’s big day (Image: ITV)
Christmas brings high drama to the soaps, and Emmerdale has delivered seven festive weddings, nearly nine, if it weren’t for Chas Dingle dumping Carl King at the altar and another groom dying on his big day.
Frank and Kim Tate (1994) It seems trying and trying again is a theme on the soap. Frank and Kim’s second wedding took place outside the usual St Mary’s, they opted for grandeur and got hitched at Ripon Cathedral. Kim, stunned in a corseted lace gown with a white dressage hat. But the celebrations ended sourly when Frank’s expensive car gift for Kim was stolen on the big day.
Linda Glover and Biff Fowler (1996) Despite Biff’s mum trying to talk him out of the marriage and his hangover, he and Linda exchanged vows. The joy was shattered when Biff’s best mate and Linda’s brother, Dave, d.i.e.d rescuing Kim Tate’s baby from a fire.
Bernice Blackstock and Ashley Thomas (2000) Proving, they can pull of a wedding without a hitch, this wedding was watched by nearly 10 million viewers and ran smoothly. Bernice wore ivory, Ashley sported his dog collar, and even Bernice’s estranged father behaved himself. It wasn’t all happily ever after however, with Bernice soon pregnant by another man, leading to drama over baby Gabby’s paternity.
Tom King and Rosemary Sinclair (2006) Who doesn’t love a bit of Christmas m.u.r.d.e.r? Hated by Tom’s sons, who saw Rosemary as a gold-digger, the ceremony ended with Tom’s shocking m.u.r.d.e.r. He was pushed through a window during an argument. This m.u.r.d.e.r mystery gripped viewers, with Tom’s son Carl eventually revealed as the k.i.l.l.e.r.
Alicia Gallagher and David Metcalfe’s 2013 festive wedding faced every mishap imaginable, including illness, a broken boiler, and even a singed hairstyle, but they still said ‘I do.’ In 2014, Katie Addyman and Andy Sugden’s second wedding was sabotaged with secret insults and a drunken crash, ending tragically just months later.
If that wasn’t enough drama, their love story ended in tragedy two months later when Katie was k.i.l.l.e.d by Robert. Then in 2020, Chas Dingle and Paddy Kirk defied festive wedding curses with a low-key, loving ceremony surrounded by family.
Wedding near-misses
Matthew King and Anna De Souza (2008) Matthew’s wedding was wrecked by his brother Carl revealing that Matthew stood by while Anna’s father, Donald, d.i.e.d of a heart attack. Anna called off the wedding at the altar, and Matthew d.i.e.d in a crash trying to k.i.l.l Carl.
Chas Dingle and Carl King (2010) Sweet sweet revenge, this must be one of the most satisfying revenge weddings on TV in history. After discovering Carl’s affair, Chas faked a pregnancy and scammed him out of money before jilting him at the altar. A masterpiece.
Jo and Andy’s prison ceremony Talk about toxic, Jo Stiles lied and manipulated her way into a relationship with Andy Sugden. Because Andy was behind bars, the pair had a prison wedding, just what a girl wants. After his release, he became abusive and convinced the village that Jo had abused him, and when everyone believed him, she left Emmerdale forever. Matthew and Anna’s car crash of a day Matthew King was tying the knot with Anna De Souza despite having watched her dad d.i.e in front of him. When his brother Carl revealed the truth, Anna fled. The brothers brawled, and Matthew tried to run Carl over, swerving to miss Anna, who appeared again. he crashed into the gatepost. He d.i.e.d in Anna’s arms.
Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle’s wedding was an unforgettable disaster(Image: ITV)
Even more drama
Disaster, dementia and d.e.a.t.h over the years
In 2000, Butch married Emily on his deathbed after a tragic bus crash, marking a poignant moment for the Dingle family. Fast forward to 2021, Mandy and Paul’s wedding ended in disaster when a lorry crash caused a d.e.a.d.l.y explosion, claiming Paul’s life. Also, in 2012, Katie married Declan while Chas’s wedding fell apart amid secrets and a shocking d.e.a.t.h. Between 2015-2017, Ashley and Laurel’s marriage portrayed love through dementia, ending with Ashley’s peaceful passing.
Dawn and Billy’s wedding (2022)
If you’re looking for a dramatic wedding day, then look no further than Dawn Taylor and Billy Fletcher’s big day. Serial k.i.l.l.e.r Meena Jutla was on the run, returning to Emmerdale on ex-boyfriend Billy’s wedding day. Posing as the wedding chauffeur, she kidnapped Dawn and Billy and held them at gunpoint on the viaduct. Meena claimed she’d hurt Dawn’s family, she eventually went to jail for her crimes.
Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle (2015) This almost-wedding has been whispered about as arguably the most dramatic on Emmerdale. Pete Barton and Debbie Dingle’s wedding was an unforgettable disaster, drama served with a side of drama.
The celebration was upended when Debbie’s secret affair with Pete’s brother Ross was revealed during the reception.
The drama escalated when Chrissie White, seeking revenge on her cheating husband Robert, set fire to his car, triggering a propane explosion that caused a helicopter to crash into the village hall. The tragedy claimed Ruby Haswell’s life and left Val Pollard critically injured.
Debbie was taken to the hospital, while Pete and Ross fought away their masculine energies. Pete believed he had k.i.l.l.e.d Ross, only for Ross to return weeks later.