Thanks all. The problems regarding alternatives are: -
1. I live in north Manchester and am hosting an event the night before, and will find it difficult to leave home until after 10pm. So cannot get to London for any of the late evening flights.
2. The 23.35 Turkish out of MAN on the evening of the 15th connects nicely but the cost is currently about £700. I love my friends dearly...but not that much.
3. The celebrants have only just announced the date (after much faffing around) so much so that the bride's uncles and aunts booked EZY flights from MAN a few weeks ago hoping that the date would be the one originally mooted but not confirmed. They are paying about £200 return....
Ah well - I will raise a glass and wish them Mazal Tov remotely.