Overview

• The appeal turned viral on Facebook, drawing tens of thousands of likes and leading to a swift identification.
• The man said he had been a plus-one for a different wedding at Ayr’s Great Western Hotel, realised the mix-up as the bride walked in, sat through the service to avoid disruption, then slipped away.
• Michelle and John Wylie married in November 2021 at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick, where the unknown guest appeared in aisle and group shots.
• After contact was made, the couple met the man in person to swap stories and said they plan to keep in touch.
• Outlets report conflicting surnames for the man—variously Helliman and Hillhouse—though accounts align on his age, job and explanation.