FOR most brides, the big day arrives with a bundle of nerves after months and months of preparation, anticipation and stress.

But 26-year-old Christina Stahis managed to avoid all that because her wedding came as a complete shock.

Romantic husband Marc Mead, from Southend, took it upon himself to arrange everything and sprang the marriage on her in the morning as the pair enjoyed a sun-baked tropical holiday in the Philippines.

The 33-year-old yoga teacher spent about four months planning the beach wedding ceremony to his American fiancee, who he met in Los Angeles four years ago on a teacher training course.

Marc, who lived in Derek Gardens, had told her they were just going to be spending a day on the beach with friends.

His Filipino pals helped him arrange everything from the date, the venue, the dress, the flowers, food and made the appointment with the town mayor to officiate the wedding.

Marc, a former pupil at FitzWimarc School, in Rayleigh, said: “Christina had no idea she was getting married, even when she turned up at the beach and everyone was there to greet her.

“I had to tell her three times that we were there to get married.

“But the look on her face when I told her made all the preparation, the awkward moments and the little white lies worth it.

“She was completely shocked and lost for words.

“I don’t think she knew I was capable or patient enough to do something like that.”

Marc was not daunted by the prospect of organising the wedding entirely by himself – something most men would be terrified by. Luckily, he had some good friends on hand to help him out.

Marc said: “Christina always says I can’t organise anything. To prove a point, I figured the best way to show her was to organise a surprise wedding.”

After meeting Christina, Marc was so smitten he returned home to give up his job and sell his house.

“He decided to travel with her across the globe teaching yoga, which they have been doing for the past three and a half years.

The wedding took place earlier this month at the private beach resort home of a friend, Tita Bernardino, in Batangas, near the Filipino capital Manila.

The bride wore a white dress with a tiara, a bouquet and elevated flip flops with rhinestones.

Despite the unusual circumstances and beach setting, the couple did most things by the book including an exchange of vows, the signing of the wedding certificate and the throwing of the bouquet and garter.

Christina had expected them to be married in March 2009 – the date they had originally earmarked.