IN what folks have described as a real embarrassing moment for a bride and groom-to-be and their respective families, a young Coast Guard officer never made it up the aisle with the mother of his two children.

The recent incident is said to have angered relatives on both sides.

Sources revealed to Sunday PUNCH that he was allegedly debarred by his superiors from attending his own wedding.

According to reports, the officer was placed in “lockdown” for the entire weekend, making it impossible for him to attend or even communicate with relatives.

The wedding was scheduled for a church in Gasparillo. Family and friends, along with guests, gathered for the lavish wedding feast and, despite their visible disappointment, partook of the prepared meals so that it would not go to waste.

“How embarrassing!” said an elderly woman.

Reports are that the South Trinidad officer had contravened military rules, by making marriage plans, having not yet given the stipulated two years’ service to the Defence Force before making the bold step.

“Whatever were the seniors’ reason for keeping him in the ‘lockdown’, that move certainly didn’t give us any comfort,” another guest told Sunday PUNCH.

“He has already fathered the children and his family thought it right that he should do the honourable thing and marry the mother.

“I don’t think it was his fault; they prevented him from marrying.”

A senior official at the Coast Guard headquarters told Sunday PUNCH he was unaware of the incident.