A LEADING jump jockey and a wedding florist sprang a surprise on guests assembled for the christening of their son – by announcing they were interrupting the baptism to get married.

As guests settled in the pews at St Nicholas Church in Husthwaite, North Yorkshire, on Sunday (September 14) ready for the christening of four-month-old Harry Thornton, the vicar told the congregation she had an announcement.

Shocked guests gasped and broke out into spontaneous applause as she announced the baby’s parents - jockey Andrew Thornton and florist Yvonne Dennis - would be getting married first.

Only three other people in the room had been briefed on the top secret wedding; former jockey Jimmy Derham, who was best man, and the wedding photographer Robert Smith. Not even the couple’s parents were aware of the plans.

“There was a massive applause and it was lovely – there were a few shocked faces,” said the new Mrs Thornton.

“The vicar knew and the photographer, who was a friend and sworn to secrecy. I had to tell him because I wanted him to capture people’s faces.”

The couple got married while their son lay happily at the feet of the vicar while she conducted the wedding ceremony. Once that was done, she then moved on to Harry’s christening.

Afterwards, the 80 guests returned to the couple’s home in Rainton for a party.

Andrew Thornton, 41, who attended Barnard Castle School, had his first winner at Sedgefield in 1991 and has won nearly 1,000 races, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, King George VI Chase and the Scottish and Welsh Grand Nationals.

The couple have known each other since they were aged seven, but have only been in a relationship with each other for just over three years.

Despite Yvonne being a professional wedding florist, there were no ornate table decorations, sit-down meals, wedding presents or organised entertainment.

Yvonne said her honeymoon was a trip to Sedgefield Racecourse on Tuesday (September 16) where her husband was racing.

“I’m a wedding florist – I’ve been in the industry for about 23 years,” she said.

“I just see weddings week in week out and I didn’t want all the frills and spill; just a really personal party and to focus on just getting married.

“We both know hundreds and hundreds of people – especially through Andrew’s job – and just thought we could get carried away with inviting 400 people easily. We didn’t want to offend anybody by missing them out, so this way it was kept very personal with closest and oldest friends.”