Spur of the moment Las Vegas wedding for Birmingham couple

May 17 2009 by Kat Keogh, Sunday Mercury

WHEN Juliet Spare boarded a plane bound for a holiday in America, getting married was the last thing on her mind.

But just days later, the Smooth Radio news presenter had a ring on her wedding finger – all thanks to a lucky bet in Las Vegas.

Juliet and her boyfriend Dan Davies, who live in Moseley, Birmingham, had travelled to the States for a two-week road trip with friends Jon Kennard and Hilary Ingham.

Cupid arrow’s struck for 28-year-old Juliet and Dan, 32, when they stopped off for a one-night stay in Vegas after attending the Coachella Music Festival in California.

“Jon and Hilary received a text from friends, who’d planned to get married there, by complete coincidence on the only night we were staying in Vegas,” said Juliet.

“We walked up to the New York Casino where we met Mike and Lysanne, who were drinking champagne and gambling.”

The newlyweds handed Juliet and Dan a $5 dollar chip each to celebrate their nuptials, and the group headed to a roulette table where Juliet put the chip on Dan’s lucky number 23.

Juliet said: “The ball stopped on number 23 and I was in shock, I just couldn’t believe it – I’ve never won anything before!

“Dan was sitting in front at the table and turned round to me with the biggest grin in the world. We agreed it was a sign and that we should tie the knot that night.

“We’ve never won any money ever before, and $200 seemed enough for us, so we were ecstatic, but played it down a bit because we felt bad no-one else won anything.”