11 things you didn’t know about Don’t Tell The Bride

There's a lot that goes down behind the scenes...

Author: HELEN BURKE & LOUELLA BERRYMANPublished 11th Aug 2020
Last updated 16th Aug 2020

If there's anything getting us through this truly bizarre summer, it's some quality reality TV. So when we heard the news that the OG series of Don't Tell The Bride was coming to Netflix, we scooted on over there quicker than you can say poorly organised theme wedding.

In light of this truly excellent news, we've done some investigation and found out some juicy facts about the show that you probably didn't know.

From the "no contact" rules to how the grooms spend the budget, immerse yourself in the world of all things DTTB with these facts about the show.

Check out 11 things you didn't know about Don't Tell The Bride:

1. Couples aren’t allowed to plan anything in advance…

There's been many an episode of DTTB that has had us screaming at the TV in frustration as the hapless groom picks the ONE dress that the bride has specifically said she'd hate to wear.


Which then leads into us having a huge rant about how if we were on the show, we'd make sure that we'd have sat with our OH before filming and told him EXACTLY what we would want for our big day.


With the exact design of our perfect dress being at the top of the list.


Well that rant is no longer justified as we've found out that the DTTB contract signed by the couples states that they aren't allowed to plan anything in advance. At all. And for any sneaky couple who has managed to confer about wedding dos and don't, if the production team get wind of this, then the idea has to be scrapped.


So there you have it. No planning allowed.

2. Once the couple have been picked for the show, its a VERY quick process…

In some cases, couples who have applied for DTTB are contacted within a week by the production company and after that its all systems go!


Once the process is underway, the grooms are given 3 weeks to organise absolutely everything for the big day.

3. The bride and groom really don’t have any contact in the lead up to their big day…

Producers are very strict when it comes to making sure that the bride has no idea what her fiancé has got planned for her.


The brave couples are instructed to shut down the Facebook pages, hand over phones and any address books, phone numbers and possible wedding notes. The bride and groom are allowed a temporary phone whilst filming goes on but these phones are basic with no wifi and under no circumstances is the couple allowed to swap numbers.

4. The non-contact rule doesn’t just apply to the bride and groom…

Contact between all family members is also VERY closely monitored. Phone calls between the bridal party and the groom are filmed from both sides to make sure that no one discusses the wedding.


The show really is that strict.

5. Sometimes the producers deliberately make things really difficult for the groom…

Any fans of the show will be use to this classic DTTB scene: It's the night of the hen party and the lucky bridal party are seen having an amazing time and can't mention enough what a great job the groom has done. Until the night draws to an end and a member of staff has to awkwardly to tell the bride that she has been lumped with the bill.


It ALWAYS seems to happen and it ALWAYS ends with a frantic attempt by the disgruntled bridesmaids to club together to cover the nights costs. And then we get to watch the mother of the bride tell the camera that she is less than chuffed with her future son-in-law's efforts.


However, past grooms of the show have revealed that they were told by producers that the hen pays for their own hen party and that they're not allowed to put any of the wedding budget towards it.


So what this means really is that some of the scenes we see on the show have been manipulated by the producers for maximum entertainment.


Are we shocked by this revelation? No, not really.

6. The grooms have to wait for clearance before they can buy anything…

One of the main perks of appearing on DTTB (and probably the reason why most couples put themselves forward for the show) is the £14,000 wedding budget that is given to each couple.


However at no point does the groom actually have contact with the money. And they are made to wait for clearance before they are able to purchase anything.


So although some grooms might have a lot of really great ideas for the big day, the constant wait for clearance means that they have to scrap some of those ideas as there isn't enough time to fit them all in.

7. The bride has next to no warning about anything…

Planning a wedding is a huge task and so we could forgive our fiancé for forgetting something for the big day. But whereas that might not be a problem under normal circumstances, for any DTTB bride, it is a massive deal.


Particularly if, say, that he's forgotten to book the bridal party's wedding cars.


And the producers don't tell you this until around FIVE minutes before you're meant to leave for the ceremony.

8. The filming schedule can be very grueling…

Some couples on the show have had a cameraman following them around and filming them every day from 8am to 12am.


That's a SIXTEEN hour day.


Most days.
For THREE weeks.

9. A DTTB wedding venue can take place pretty much ANYWHERE…

DTTB has been running for 10 whole series and in that time, the surprised (and sometimes very angry) brides have ended up saying their vows in the craziest of venues.


There's been a ceremony in an underground cave, a wrestling ring and even on a rollercoaster at Thorpe Park.


And who could forget the reaction of bride, Hayley, when she found out that she would be getting married underwater.
In the swimming pool at the local leisure centre.

10. The groom generally finds the process VERY stressful

OK so we might be stating the obvious with this one…
But it is still valid.


Weddings are stressful at the best of times- and particularly so for the grooms in DTTB who have been given the task to decide every little detail that will go towards creating the perfect day!


And then they have the added pressure of having a camera in their face and constantly being asked how they're feeling, what they're thinking and what their next planning move will be.


We're getting flustered just thinking about it.

11. It really is an amazing experience…

OK, so this isn't based on any first hand knowledge.
But still…


Apart from a few car crash TV moments (who can forget THAT Vegas nightmare), the vast majority of the couples who have appeared on DTTB have said afterwards what an amazing experience it was for them.


Brides of the show have been blown away with the level of thought, organisation and effort that their other halves have put into the whole process.

How to apply for Don't Tell The Bride

You and your fiancé can apply for Don’t Tell The Bride via an online application form. All you need to do is provide some basic info and you’re asked to attach a recent and clear photo of the two of you.

You also need to provide links to your social media account and answer questions like whether you live together or have children.

You'll also need to send off a video with your fiancé, explain your relationship history and why you want to appear on the show.

Don't Tell The Bride is available on Netflix now.

For great music, brilliant banter and incredible competitions tune into Northsound 1 on 96.9, 97.6 or 103.0 FM, online, on our Northsound app, your DAB digital radio, or say ‘Play Northsound 1’ on your Smart Speaker. We give you the biggest hits from the world’s hottest artists. You’ll find new favourites every day and hear the songs you've missed from the last few years.