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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Flora Bowen & Zahna Eklund

'I announced my pregnancy at dad's wedding - online trolls tainted the whole gesture'

When it comes to weddings, most of us know there's a set of unspoken rules that you usually don't break on someone else's big day, such as wearing a white dress as a guest or proposing to your partner at the reception.

But every family is different, and when one woman decided to use her speech at her dad's wedding to announce that she was expecting a baby, her loved ones were thrilled for her - including the bride and groom.

During her speech, Ella Amber, 32, handed her dad a book he used to head her as a child and told him to turn to the first page, where she had placed a picture of her baby scan.

Despite her dad being moved to tears by the announcement, some people online were quick to accuse the new mum of stealing the bride and groom's limelight when the video was posted on social media.

Ella's dad was moved to tears by her announcement (Olivia Hull / SWNS)
But some online said she was being 'selfish' (Olivia Hull / SWNS)

In the video, the tutor and content creator from Birmingham, West Midlands, told the room "hopefully you'll see you have reason to read this book again in the not-so-distant future".

Guests in the clip were seen clapping and cheering, but not everyone online was so supportive - with some cruelly branding the woman "selfish".

Ella, who welcomed her son George in January, said: "They said it completely made their day and still talk about it now. My dad said he couldn't stop re-watching the video of the speech and announcement for a few days after the wedding.

"They both cried at the time and were so emotional and happy. It was a really special moment as they had no idea I was going to announce that I was pregnant.

"My husband and I were trying for about three months and we were so excited when we found out.

"Being called 'selfish' online was quite hurtful as my decision to announce my pregnancy was to make my dad and stepmum even happier on their special day. It wasn't meant to be about me at all.

"I was nervous about doing a speech in the first place, let alone announcing that I was pregnant in front of all those people. I did it purely for my dad and stepmum. There certainly wasn't any other intention.

"I felt saddened and shocked by the criticism online. I would never have done anything like this at say a friend's wedding but this was my dad and stepmum's wedding."

The wedding of her father, a lawyer, and her stepmother, a project manager, took place at a manor house in the Cotswolds in July last year. During her speech, Ella presented her dad with a book of Greek myths and legends that he always used to read to her when she was a child.

She said in her speech: "I have actually got you a little gift. It's a special gift that I hope will always remind you, as it does me, of special times when I was young.

"For those of you who don't know, my dad used to read me Greek myths and legends from this book when I was younger, and he often recited them from memory. This was a special father-daughter treat for me when dad used to get home from work, just before my bedtime.

"So dad, I want you to turn to the first page and see why I bought this book for you. Hopefully, you'll see you have reason to read this book again in the not-so-distant future."

Ella's dad and stepmum were "so emotional and happy" at the "special moment", but when she posted the video to TikTok, she was "hurt" to see how much negativity it attracted.

She explained: "It's just a shame my experience has been tainted by some unkind comments on that wedding speech video from people who don't even follow me and don't know me.

"People can be so quick to judge someone they don't know. I'm a big believer in the importance of mental health and wish social media didn't have a toxic side attached to it. The world would be a much happier place if everyone was kind."

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