Bride’s Wedding Dress Ruined by Sister-in-Law’s Paint Attack Moments Before Ceremony
On her wedding day, Gemma Monk was prepared to walk down the aisle when her sister-in-law, Antonia Eastwood, threw black paint over her wedding dress and face. The attack occurred at Oakwood House in Maidstone just seconds before the ceremony was to begin. Despite the ruined £1,800 gown, Monk changed into a replacement dress and proceeded with the wedding, marrying her partner Ken Monk two hours after the incident.
The Attack and Immediate Aftermath
As Monk prepared for her walk down the aisle, Antonia Eastwood, the wife of Monk’s older brother Ashley, approached and drenched her in black paint. The paint covered Monk’s white wedding dress, her face, and her eyes. Eastwood fled the venue immediately, leaving Monk standing in the hallway in a ruined dress. Monk described the moment as turning her happiest moment into a nightmare.
Monk’s Determination to Proceed
Despite the attack, Monk refused to let the sabotage ruin her day. She retreated to a changing cubicle to clean the paint from her skin. An usher was sent to find a replacement dress, which although too large, she chose to wear. Monk stated she would have walked down the aisle in her underwear if necessary to marry her partner of 20 years. The couple had saved for years for their £8,000 ceremony and chose the venue due to the fact that it was where Monk’s birth had been registered.
Background and Motive
The motive for the attack appears to stem from a toxic family feud that began over a year earlier at Eastwood’s own wedding in Dover. During that event, Monk had been wrongly accused of ‘trying to trip up’ Eastwood as she walked down the aisle. This accusation seems to have fueled the revenge attack on Monk’s wedding day.
Outcome and Public Response
Monk and Ken Monk were married just two hours after the attack. The incident drew significant media attention, with coverage from outlets such as the Daily Mail, Metro, and The Irish Sun. Monk’s resilience in proceeding with the ceremony despite the ordeal was widely noted in the coverage.
Bride’s Wedding Dress Ruined by Sister-in-Law’s Paint Attack Moments Before Ceremony
On her wedding day, Gemma Monk was prepared to walk down the aisle when her sister-in-law, Antonia Eastwood, threw black paint over her wedding dress and face. The attack occurred at Oakwood House in Maidstone just seconds before the ceremony was to begin. Despite the ruined £1,800 gown, Monk changed into a replacement dress and proceeded with the wedding, marrying her partner Ken Monk two hours after the incident.
The Attack and Immediate Aftermath
As Monk prepared for her walk down the aisle, Antonia Eastwood, the wife of Monk’s older brother Ashley, approached and drenched her in black paint. The paint covered Monk’s white wedding dress, her face, and her eyes. Eastwood fled the venue immediately, leaving Monk standing in the hallway in a ruined dress. Monk described the moment as turning her happiest moment into a nightmare.

Monk’s Determination to Proceed
Despite the attack, Monk refused to let the sabotage ruin her day. She retreated to a changing cubicle to clean the paint from her skin. An usher was sent to find a replacement dress, which although too large, she chose to wear. Monk stated she would have walked down the aisle in her underwear if necessary to marry her partner of 20 years. The couple had saved for years for their £8,000 ceremony and chose the venue because it was where Monk’s birth had been registered.
Background and Motive
The motive for the attack appears to stem from a toxic family feud that began over a year earlier at Eastwood’s own wedding in Dover. During that event, Monk had been wrongly accused of ‘trying to trip up’ Eastwood as she walked down the aisle. This accusation seems to have fueled the revenge attack on Monk’s wedding day.
Outcome and Public Response
Monk and Ken Monk were married just two hours after the attack. The incident drew significant media attention, with coverage from outlets such as the Daily Mail, Metro, and The Irish Sun. Monk’s resilience in proceeding with the ceremony despite the ordeal was widely noted in the coverage.