“She'll never see it.”
“She'll never respond.”
“Why bother?”
Instead, he wrote the letter.
He took the chance.
And even though he did not actually expect the Queen to attend, his decision created a story that the couple would remember for the rest of their lives.
There is something wonderfully human about that.
Most people send invitations expecting a yes or no.
They don't expect the recipient to become part of their life's most important memories.
John and Frances learned that sometimes an invitation can travel farther than you expect.
A Special Moment During a Historic Year
The encounter also happened during an important chapter in Queen Elizabeth II's reign.
2012 marked her Diamond Jubilee — 60 years since she became monarch.
The Royal Family's official plans emphasized that the Jubilee year was intended not only as a celebration of the Queen's reign, but also as an opportunity for her to travel around the United Kingdom and meet communities across the country.
In a March 2012 address to Parliament, the Queen herself spoke about the importance of the Jubilee as an opportunity for people to come together and celebrate their communities.
Her Manchester visit was part of that wider national tour.
And in an unexpected way, John and Frances became part of it.
Their wedding was not a state occasion.
They were not dignitaries.
They were not hosting a royal reception.
They were simply two people who had chosen to get married at a historic Manchester building on a day when the Queen happened to be visiting.
Yet their story captured something that large official ceremonies often cannot.
A personal moment.
A surprise.
A smile.
A few words of congratulations.
And a photograph.
The Setting Made the Story Even More Extraordinary
Manchester Town Hall was not an ordinary wedding venue.
The building, designed by architect Alfred Waterhouse, is one of Manchester's most famous landmarks and is recognized by Manchester City Council as a Grade I listed building of exceptional architectural and historic importance.
The Neo-Gothic building opened in the nineteenth century and was designed to serve both ceremonial and civic purposes.
Over the decades, it has hosted politicians, civic leaders, musicians, international visitors and countless local events.
But Manchester City Council now specifically remembers John and Frances Canning's wedding as one of the Town Hall's notable stories.
Its official history says that the Cannings' wedding coincided with Queen Elizabeth II's visit in 2012 and that the monarch met the couple to offer her congratulations.
That is quite a legacy for a wedding invitation that began as a joke.
A Story That Became Part of Manchester's History
There are countless weddings every year.
Most are remembered by the families who attend them.
Some are photographed professionally.
Some become stories told around dinner tables.
Very few become part of the history of a city landmark.
John and Frances' wedding somehow became one of those rare exceptions.
Years later, Manchester City Council included their story among the memories associated with the Town Hall.
That means the moment did not simply disappear after the photographs were taken.
It became part of the building's story.
A small personal event became a piece of public history.
And that is perhaps one of the most charming things about the entire episode.
The couple weren't trying to make history.
They were trying to get married.
The Queen Was No Stranger to Ordinary People
There was also something consistent with the broader character of Elizabeth II's public role.
During her reign, the Queen spent an enormous amount of time meeting members of the public.
Hospitals.
Schools.
Community organizations.
Charities.
Businesses.
Volunteers.
Families.
Workers.
People from almost every part of British society.
Her 2012 Diamond Jubilee tour was specifically designed to take her around the country and give her opportunities to meet people in different towns and cities.
The Manchester wedding encounter fit naturally within that tradition.
It was not a grand state ceremony.
It was not about politics.
It was simply a few minutes spent congratulating two people who had just begun their married life.
And perhaps that is why the story resonated so strongly.
Imagine Being John Canning
Imagine the sequence of events.
First, you discover that the Queen is going to be in the same building as your wedding.
Then you make a joke.
You write to Buckingham Palace.
A letter comes back.
You laugh about it with your future wife.
You tell your friends.
Then the wedding day arrives.
You get married.
Someone asks you to wait in the corridor.
You have no idea why.
A few minutes later, the Queen walks toward you.
And she knows your name.
Your bride is standing beside you.