A Facebook post helped to save an Israeli couple’s wedding party on Sunday.

When Annette and Lior Solomon got married at the weekend, many guests didn’t turn up, assuming the wedding had been cancelled as the bride’s father had recently passed away.

This distressed one guest – Rivka, a relative of the groom - so she posted a message on Facebook inviting strangers to come and celebrate with the newlyweds. Her post resulted in over 2,000 people attending the wedding.

The post said: "The bride lost both her parents in the last two years. Her father passed away a month ago, and now there is no one there except for a few relatives. You don't need a gift, you don't need money. Just come fill the auditorium, fulfill a mitzvah, and make a bride and groom happy."

Rivka said of the response: "These are the Israeli people at their best. The groom and bride cried. Understand, at the wedding canopy they were alone. After the story was published, people came to make them happy."