W eddings can be complicated to organise, especially when the venue is more than 4,000 miles from home. But Andrea, a Londoner, was confident she and her partner, Josh, had thought of everything when they planned their dream wedding in Barbados for the beginning of May.

The British couple – Andrea of Nigerian and Josh of Bajan heritage – booked a stunning venue, with tropical gardens and spectacular views.

Invitations were sent out to 170 guests from the UK, Nigeria and Barbados, with pre-wedding parties and a black-tie ceremony bringing together generations of far-flung family and friends.

According to the island’s official tourism site: “You deserve a wedding beyond your imagination.” What happened next ticked the “beyond your imagination” box in a way the couple could never have anticipated.

Andrea invited her close friend Femi, a Nigerian hairdresser, to be her bridesmaid.…