MELBOURNE, Fla. – As far as wedding crashers go, for Ryan and A'riel Kastovich, theirs was a dream come true.
Local 6 News partner, Florida Today reports, the couple was married Saturday at Ascension Catholic Church in Melbourne and then moved the celebration to the Front Street Civic Center surrounded by family, friends and a certain Backstreet Boy.
After the couple's first dance, they were presented with a letter via the Backstreet Boys' management team. The band enjoyed superstardom in the late '90s and early 2000s with hits like "Quit Playing Games with My Heart," "I Want it That Way" and "Larger Than Life."
The letter congratulated the couple on their marriage, offered apologies for not being able to attend and thanks for "being such loyal and loving fans."
The bottom of the letter includes the signatures of band members Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A.J. McLean and Kevin Richardson.
A member of the wedding party then asked about the fifth member: "What about Howie D?"
At that point the couple was told: "He wanted to tell you in person."
And with that, DJ Shane introduced the fifth member of the group as Howie D entered the reception.
Dorough told the couple: "Congratulations. I'm representing everybody. I wanted to thank you guys so much for the wonderful invitation for us. I wish I was able to have all my guys here, unfortunately, it's a little tough getting everybody from all the different states to get together, but I live in the backyard here with you guys, and I'm very honored to be here."
Then, Dorough serenaded the newlyweds with the Backstreet Boys hit "All I Have To Give."
A'riel Kastovich, the bride, told Howie D: "Thank you so much. This made our whole day. We are lifelong fans."
In October, Ryan and A'riel posted a YouTube video inviting the band to their January wedding. Local 6 News partner Florida Today shared their story in November.
In the video, the couple tells the Backstreet Boys that the group played an integral part during their childhoods, igniting the spark that drew them together.
Tom Biddix of Melbourne told his famous friend Howie Dorough, aka Howie D, about A'riel and Ryan's big wish.
This week, Dorough confirmed he could attend the event. Biddix reached out to Timmy Vee, WA1A morning show host, to help track down the couple. Timmy Vee called FLORIDA TODAY and staff at the newspaper's north Melbourne offices, and in conjunction with Biddix and Dorough, worked with the band's management team to bring the couple's wish for a Backstreet Boys' wedding visit to life.
"I think it's amazing that people that have been at the level (Dorough's) been will do this kind of stuff," Vee said. "It's a big deal. Even though the Backstreet Boys were big in the '90s, they were the biggest in the '90s."
And as for Vee's take on the wedding crash surprise? "I'd like to know about someone who is going to be excited about me making a surprise visit to their wedding," he said with a chuckle.