A COUPLE from the U.S. state of Florida were caught trying to throw a wedding at a luxury mansion they hadn’t rented because the owners were in.

Shenita Jones and Courtney Wilson dreamed of tying the knot at the US$5.5 million property belonging to restaurant chain heir Nathan Finkel.

After he refused them permission to use the property as a venue, they decided to take a chance and throw a wedding without him knowing.

Believing the Florida mansion was empty they invited their family and friends for a lavish bash April 17, only to discover Finkel was home.

Despite the lovestruck pair insisting it was “God’s message” that they wed there, the disgruntled home owner called the police who arrived and halted to proceedings.

“I have people trespassing on my property,” Finkel told a 911 dispatcher.

“And they keep harassing me, calling me. They say they’re having a wedding here and it’s God’s message.

“I don’t know what’s going on. All I want is [for] it to stop. And they’re sitting at my property right at the front gate right now.”

On the invite Jones and Wilson said the wedding would be at “our dream home — The Wilson Estate.”

Before the big day Courtney had made several trips to the mansion pretending to be interested in buying it, Town Attorney Keith Poliakoff told the Sentinel.

The 4972-square-meters nine-bedroom home has a grand ballroom, two-story gentleman’s bar, movie theater, two-lane bowling alley, pool, tennis court and dance studio.

Poliakoff said Wilson took many photos and asked to use the venue, but was rejected.

Undeterred, the bride and groom planned their wedding there on April 17 at 3.30 p.m.

The ceremony was to be followed by a “Red carpet cocktail hour” and a reception that would continue into the night, ending at 2.30 a.m.

“It is our honor to welcome you into our dream home and Estate, to share this special occasion with us,” the invite, published on a wedding website, reads.

Jones and Wilson also invited their guests to return to “our home” the following day for a “wonderful Sunday brunch” featuring “delicacies from our renowned chef on our resort style pool, while being entertained by the sounds of a live Jazz band.”

Broward County records show a marriage license has been issued to the couple April 14, but they had not registered as married by April 21.

(SD-Agencies)