The evening progressed as a debutante ball should, a blend of proper protocol and the customary celebratory dance, but after the debs and their partners finished their final official steps the evening took an interesting turn.

‘Here comes the bride’ began playing in the Mia Function Centre and the crowd found they were in for more than they expected.

With Buster Ryan standing at the ready, his longtime partner Sue Parker marched out to meet him in front of the audience.

The couple had been engaged for close to four years, and at the suggestion from friends took full advantage of being dressed for the occasion.

“We just thought we were dressed up, there was a fair few of our family and friends that would be here for the show,” said Mr Ryan.

“We’ve been together for 11 years and we decided to seize the opportunity.”

Trying to pull everything together covertly was a challenge for the couple.

They kept it under raps until several days before when they decided they had to inform the family they wanted to be a part of the wedding party.

“We’d talk to other people and they’d say ‘how you going, are you nervous about the performance?’” said the newly minted Mrs Ryan.

The night before the ball the debs and their partners gathered to practice the dance a final time prior to the performance.

One of the debutantes flung her bouquet into the air and it landed in Mrs Ryan’s hands.

“They laughed and said ‘you caught the bouquet and you’re next,’” Mrs Ryan said.

“And the very next night here I am.”