Pictured: Brides whose big day was ruined after wedding venue ceiling collapsed just as cake was being cut - leaving one best man in hospital with head injuries

 

Two brides had their wedding day ruined when the ceiling at the hotel they hired collapsed just as they were cutting the cake - leaving one best man requiring hospital treatment.

Newly-married Gary and Emily Parkin were just about to slice the cake when tiles and plaster debris plummeted from the building's ceiling.

Balloons had just been released at the Queen's Hotel in Dundee and seconds later tiles came crashing down - forcing the two wedding parties to evacuate the building.  

The Parkins and a second pair of newlyweds were then left to make other arrangements after firefighters ruled the building unsafe

Mr Parkins' father, Bill, admitted the newlyweds have been left devastated following the incident on Saturday night.

The 55 year old revealed his younger son, Neil - who was the best-man - was struck by a tile, leaving him requiring hospital treatment.

He said that Gary and Emily,from Dundee, who have been together since 2013, are unlikely to organise an alternative ceremony.

Mr Parkins said: 'The band were just warming up and we had a net which opened balloons and confetti while Gary and Emily were cutting the cake.

'There was a small bang when this happened, but then there was another bang and it was like: "What was that?" 

'I was at the bar, but heard Neil had been hurt. I came in and saw him sitting as white as a ghost.

'We'd only been in the place 40 minutes - the place was only just beginning to fill up.

'All Emily wants to do is go down to Queen's and draw a line under it.

'They're both understandably gutted. The day was ruined by half past eight.'

Best man Neil, 27, said: 'I've still got a sore head and am a bit dizzy. I got plastered, but not the way I wanted.

'I was outside taking a family portrait when I heard they were cutting the cake. I came back in and they had only just cut the cake when I got a smack on the back of the head.

'The night was just starting.

The second couple, Keith, 50, and Sharon Clark, 46, had booked their wedding reception on the second floor of the hotel when the ceiling fell down.