Wedding crashers - Why Hertfordshire Police were called to trouble at weddings and funerals

But it’s that potentially explosive cocktail of alcohol, tears and infighting that’s resulted in the event being ruined - by the police turning up.

A Hertfordshire Police investigation has revealed the incredible crimes committed by wedding guests and mourners.

And in one instance one mourner’s life was even threatened at a mosque.

Elsewhere, several wedding party guests were beaten black and blue at wedding receptions.

And in one bizarre instance, police were called to one street after a neighbour complained that an Indian wedding was being staged in the middle of a public road.

Celebrity author GP Taylor was a vicar before leaving the church a decade ago.

In his 13 years as a man of the cloth he said he witnessed some incredible sites at weddings and funerals - and claimed alcohol was usually at the root of them..

“There was one incident in when the service went well but once this family all left the church and moved outside, they all just started fighting,” said Mr Taylor, author of the bestselling Shadowmancer books, which have been turned into Hollywood movies.

“It got so out of control they brought a dog handler in - it was absolute carnage.

“There were people running around with blood on their shirts, which had been ripped in the scuffle while people were screaming and crying.”

“I said to them ‘This is a house of God and a place of peace!’ But it didn’t stop them, and it just kicked off.”

But it isn’t just days of celebration in which tempers flared.

“There was a funeral at a church in which the police had to remove a mourner as she was paralytic drunk,” added Mr Taylor.

“She was screaming shouting, falling over people and falling over the coffin.

“It was hysterically funny but it is a time of great sadness so you have to be sensitive.”

He also recalls another incident where police were called to collect a vicar from a hedge after he drunkenly fell into it prior to a christening.

“Another vicar was called to do the service while he sobered up in the back of the police van,” added the author.

Exclusive figures obtained through the Freedom of Information showed booze-fueled violence sparked the most 999 calls at funerals or weddings in Hertfordshire.

One person was charged by police after a brawl at a ceremony.

But it wasn’t just violence which lead to the long arm of the law crashing the ceremony.

Some dopey wedding guests were caught by bobbies smoking cannabis at a reception, while one couple’s perfect day was marred when one light-fingered member of the party nicked their wedding presents/

In total, Hertforshire Constabulary’s dealt with at least 26 calls regarding trouble at weddings or funerals in 2015.

But not all of them were violent; The force dealt with noise complaints at a large ceremony, while there were four complaints that funeral services was causing traffic issues, including a traveler funeral.

However, Norfolk Constabulary dealt with some relatively tame crimes compared to other forces.

In South Wales, someone working at a wedding reception exposed themselves to a guest, while in East Yorkshire a bride’s parents were arrested after hurling expletives at the groom’s family.

In Somerset, married life for one couple literally started with a bang - after a bride-zilla belted her hubby-to-be.

And in perhaps the most shocking incident, one guest at a Derbyshire wedding was arrested for rape.

The rapist was just cautioned for his crime.

Yet while most services pass without incident, Mr Taylor added: “The trouble is these are times of incredible emotion, and any time alcohol is involved and families are brought together that can be fractious.”