A Coffin with a Gift Bow Was Brought to Our Wedding During the Ceremony — I Nearly Fainted When It Opened

The couple’s idyllic wedding day took an unexpected turn when a casket topped with a huge bow was brought to the altar. The guests sat silent, the bride was left astonished, and the following bit of action would go down in history as the most unexpected joke of the day.

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” As I adjusted my veil in the mirror, my dad inquired, his warm hand resting on my shoulder.

“My entire life, Dad, I’ve been prepared,” I grinned. My heart was thumping with excitement, yet my hands were firm.

Though I didn’t grow up dreaming about fairy tales, I had always desired this day—a day spent with family, friends, and love. And now it was taking place. Everything went exactly as I had envisioned, right down to the last detail.

I had devoted months to selecting flowers, selecting the appropriate hues, and ensuring that everyone understood their role. I was a bit of a control freak, as my mother used to say, but it felt good to know that everything was in order.

Adding, “You look beautiful,” my dad became a little emotional.

I teased, “Don’t start crying yet.” “We still have to make it down the aisle.”

I was so excited to see my soon-to-be husband, Jacob, as I made my way down the aisle. He was not the same as me. He didn’t overthink anything. When I became too serious, Jacob would always make me laugh with his calm and sense of humor. That was my favorite thing about him.

I met Jacob four years ago at a party hosted by a mutual acquaintance. He came up to me and grinned broadly; I had been sitting in the corner, trying not to engage in small talk.

He said, “You seem like you’re having a great time,” while clutching a drink in each hand.

I said, “I detest parties.”

“Me too,” he said with a giggle, obviously enjoying himself.

That was Jacob; laid back and able to find the positive in any circumstance. We got to speak, and before long, I was laughing as well. Everything changed for me that night.

Despite our stark differences, we seemed to fit together. He loved spontaneity; I loved order. I liked to live in the moment; he liked to plan things out. However, it managed to function somehow.

My best friend Kate had exclaimed, “I can’t believe you’re getting married,” at the bachelorette party. “You used to say you didn’t believe in all this wedding stuff.”

“I didn’t,” I answered, bringing Jacob to mind. “But then I met him.”

Jacob had made his own buddies, people he had known since elementary school. They were a boisterous group of people who enjoyed making jokes about one another. I knew they meant the world to Jacob, even though at times they drove me crazy.

Derek, his closest friend, was in charge all the time, coming up with wild plans and practical jokes. Calling themselves the “bachelor club,” the males seemed to be trapped in the years of high school.

“Eventually, they will mature,” Jacob would always smile and say.

But when Jacob was with me, he was different, even though they were immature at times. He was more than simply a practical joker; he was considerate and sweet, and he never failed to make me laugh. He would cook me dinner when I was too exhausted, leave me notes, and patiently listen to my nonstop wedding planning.

I once heard him tell me, “That’s what you’re supposed to do when you love someone,” with a shrug as though it were the simplest thing ever.

At last the day had come, and the sun was beaming. It was flawless. I inhaled deeply as I stood there, about to wed the love of my life. Jacob, well, he was probably making jokes with his pals, trying to ease his worries, while my father was by my side and my family and friends were all waiting outside.

“You ready?” Dad sensed my delight and asked again.

“I have never felt more prepared,” I answered.

I grinned as I gave the mirror one more glance. Everything went precisely how it was meant to. I was excited to see Jacob waiting for me at the end of the aisle rather than anxious.

After that, we went outside.

Everything about the ceremony was going well. Jacob and I stood with our hands clasped, facing one other while the gentle buzz of music filled the room. I could feel the warmth of his affection emanating from him as he smiled at me. I could see tears welling up in his eyes as my heart grew full of happiness. The most significant words of our life, marriage vows, were going to be exchanged.

However, as soon as I opened my lips to speak, I noticed something peculiar. Someone appeared with a bunch of people from behind the venue. They were lugging a hefty object and moving slowly. Someone bringing in a last-minute wedding gift made me laugh at first. However, when they approached, I could see what they were holding. a casket.

My stomach fell out. I blinked, thinking I was dreaming, but sure enough, there it was. An actual wooden coffin topped with an enormous red bow.

“What the…?” I was hardly able to comprehend it as I mumbled to myself. This cannot be taking place.

Just moments ago, the guests had been grinning and laughing, but now they were silent. As the casket approached, everyone’s attention seemed to shift away from the music. A wave of confusion swept across the throng. My heart raced. I glanced at Jacob, anticipating a response, but he remained motionless, his eyes wide as everyone else’s.

“What is this?” Panic rising in my chest, I thought. Is this a practical joke? Something has terribly gone wrong. I looked around for an explanation, but it didn’t appear like anyone knew what was going on. I felt as though I would pass out, my head was racing.

The men in the group with the coffin approached. My knees were shaking, and my heart was hammering in my chest. Even Jacob appeared too shocked to move, even though I was holding his hand tightly.

They approached the altar directly and placed the casket at our feet. My breathing was labored.

Then Derek, the best man, one of Jacob’s friends, came up. It was, of course, him. Derek had to be the one behind anything this crazy, if anyone was. His hand moved slowly as he reached for the coffin lid, giving the impression that he was purposefully creating tension.

“Derek, what the hell is going on?” Eventually, I said, my voice trembling.

He remained silent. Rather, he lifted the lid with a broad, silly smile.

I let out a gasp. Not what I expected to find inside the casket. No gloomy surprise, no sick joke. Rather than that, there was a big framed picture of Jacob lying there, complete with a gigantic ribbon that gave the impression that he was a gift.

I was too shocked for a moment to respond. My mind was having trouble processing what I was witnessing. The remainder of Jacob’s buddies then burst forth from behind the coffin, exclaiming, “Surprise!!!”

I was frozen in place as I tried to take it all in. Panic followed by confusion and then realization crossed my mind. I realized slowly that this was all a joke. An absurd, extravagant practical joke played by Jacob’s companions. Everything, the casket, the portrait. They were implying that, as he was getting married, Jacob was now “dead” to them.

“You must be joking with me,” I whispered, still in disbelief.

Clearly proud of himself, Derek erupted into laughter. “He’s now got a wife! “He’s gone forever!” he exclaimed, gesturing to the photo of Jacob. The other guys were chuckling as well, giving each other back slaps as though they’d just finished the greatest practical joke ever.

I looked across at Jacob, who was wearing a sheepish smile now. He hurriedly answered, “I had no idea,” raising his hands as if he was exempt from all of this. “I swear, I didn’t know they were planning this.”

I was momentarily at a loss for what to do. There was a part of me that wanted to choke Derek for ruining my wedding with something so ridiculous. But then it dawned on me how ridiculous it was all. These kinds of antics were a regular feature of Jacob’s pals. It was their method of expressing their concern. It was also, to be honest, sort of humorous.

I looked across at Jacob, who was wearing a sheepish smile now. He hurriedly answered, “I had no idea,” raising his hands as if he was exempt from all of this. “I swear, I didn’t know they were planning this.”

I was momentarily at a loss for what to do. There was a part of me that wanted to choke Derek for ruining my wedding with something so ridiculous. But then it dawned on me how ridiculous it was all. These kinds of antics were a regular feature of Jacob’s pals. It was their method of expressing their concern. It was also, to be honest, sort of humorous.

I looked across at Jacob, who was wearing a sheepish smile now. He hurriedly answered, “I had no idea,” raising his hands as if he was exempt from all of this. “I swear, I didn’t know they were planning this.”

I was momentarily at a loss for what to do. There was a part of me that wanted to choke Derek for ruining my wedding with something so ridiculous. But then it dawned on me how ridiculous it was all. These kinds of antics were a regular feature of Jacob’s pals. It was their method of expressing their concern. It was also, to be honest, sort of humorous.

I felt a flood of affection and relief as I turned to face Jacob. Even with the madness, everything was flawless. This was our wedding day, and we would always remember it.

Jacob gently leaned in to give me a kiss. He said, “I love you,” his eyes sparkling.

“I love you too,” I said in a whisper, reflecting on the day.

Did you enjoy this story? Take a look at this one, if possible: For fun, I brought a fortune teller to my bridal shower to spook my picky future mother-in-law. Her luxury luggage revealed a surprising secret that might have completely ruined my wedding day. What had begun as innocent fun suddenly turned into a dramatic confrontation.

Though it has been romanticized for artistic purposes, this work draws inspiration from actual individuals and events. For reasons of privacy protection and story improvement, names, characters, and details have been changed. Any likeness to real people, alive or dead, or real events is entirely accidental and not the author’s intention.