See how other couples celebrated their big day with wedding stories and ideas from County Wedding Magazines' Real Weddings features.
Natalie and Josh met at a party 13 years ago, and Josh proposed in 2016 just before Christmas. He'd intended to pop the question in Paris on New Year's Eve, but collected the ring early and was so excited, he couldn't keep it a secret any longer! He booked a restaurant in Brighton instead and happily Natalie said, "Yes."
Grace and Mark met through work and decided to give coupledom a shot at the Christmas party back in 2016. Fast forwarding four years we find the couple on top of Cheddar Gorge near Glastonbury, where Mark popped the question. The original plan was to propose a few months earlier, while they on holiday in South Africa, but unfortunately Covid put a stop to that. But the new version on home soil was definitely an incredible surprise for Grace who of course said, "Yes"!
These lovebirds first met around 10 years ago but lost contact over time. It wasn't until Dom moved back from London in 2018 that he messaged Dan to meet for a drink – it all restarted from there! "Sense of humour is what initially attracted us to one another and as our relationship grew, it was obvious that we had so many similarities", says Dom. He popped the question a few years later during a beach walk with their dog. He says, "There was little romance to it; I asked Dan if he fancied having a wedding and when he said 'yes', I replied, 'Oh that's good because I have a ring'. It was a surprise to Dan but nobody else. I roped in one of his best friends and her husband to find out his ring size, keeping quiet is not one of my strengths!"
Trang and Kurtis met at university. "I spoke to Trang at the annual ball," Kurtis tells us. "We got on well and over the next few weeks, I discovered the fun and silly side of her personality." Trang adds, "I thought Kurtis was funny when I first met him and as I got to know him more, the small things attracted me to him including his gentle, calm demeanour and love of animals."
Sammy and Graeme met while at university when they both went on a skiing trip to France. "We bonded over being beginners on the slopes and throwing some interesting shapes on the dancefloor," they tell us. "I was immediately attracted to Sammy and, at the advice of my friends, I thought I was playing it cool by waiting an entire day to ask her out!" Graeme says. "For our first date, keen to impress, I planned a tour around some of the best cocktails bars – but I was so nervous that I arranged the meeting time for two hours before the music started in the first bar and then I missed her numerous hints for food while asking the waitress for more free popcorn! Still, it can't have gone too badly, because by spring we'd become inseparable."
Georgia and Nathan met at work. "A friend of ours at the Christmas party told me that Nathan had a little soft spot for me and the rest was history from that evening," Georgia tells us. "Nathan asked me to marry him four years later in Bath which was the perfect place because it's where he had taken me for our first ever weekend away.
These lovebirds met on Hinge the day before the first lockdown, so they spent three months video dating and getting to know each other. They watched TV simultaneously, played games over Zoom and cooked the same meals. Fast forward time, Tom proposed on a trip to Marseille! Nicola says, "It was a surprise; I suspected it was coming at some point, but not during that trip. He got down on one knee in a little cheese and wine bar – it was perfect!"
These love birds had known of each other through the grapevine, but swiping right on Tinder brought them together! Jason proposed in Barcelona, Elle's favourite city, in a secluded area amongst the trees overlooking the city during a picnic. It was on the first day of their holiday, so they enjoyed the rest of the week celebrating. It was a complete surprise and Jason did well to get through airport security smoothly – his bag usually sets alarms off!
These lovebirds worked at the same company but didn't start chatting until Howard moved into the same block of flats as Steph. After a few dates, the pair knew they had found their soul mate and the rest is history! Steph comments, "We managed to spend evenings chatting away, and there was never a lull in conversation. From the beginning, we just got on really well!"
David came back from university and met Sophie, who was working behind the bar in a local pub. A few weeks later, the pair bumped into each other and exchanged numbers – the rest is history! Fast forward time, David popped the question and the couple tied the knot on August 6th 2022. They planned the perfect day full of fun
Eleanor and Reece met on a night out just before the lockdown in 2020 and created a strong bond that grew over the next few years. Reece was attracted to Eleanor's independence and thought she was the most gorgeous girl. It was love at first sight for them both – how romantic!
Hannah and James met at the Corn Exchange Wallingford theatre, during an audition for an Agatha Christie murder mystery in July 2018. "I thought that James was tall, dark and handsome but too young for me because he is five years younger," Hannah says. "In the end, I decided to pursue things although James was more forthcoming than I was and we shared some kisses off stage in the wings!"
Jade and Matt met at Oxford Brookes University in 2013. "I worked with Matt's friend who introduced us and our relationship blossomed from there," Jade tells us. "Matt proposed to me during a trip to the Cotswolds where we stayed in a place called Piglet Cottage. With the help of our sausage dog, Malcolm, who was dressed in a bow tie printed with the words 'she said yes', Matt got down on one knee in front of the fire and asked me to marry him. It was a wonderful, romantic surprise! For the past five years, I had always packed my best clothes and make-up whenever we went away, should a proposal happen, but it never did. The one time I packed my comfortable unflattering clothes, it happened!"
Emilene and Mark met at a local football presentation evening, and soon found themselves chatting away. At the time they were both in relationships with their own families, and at the end of the night went their separate ways not knowing what the future would hold. Five years later, and now free agents, their paths crossed again. Mark messaged Emilene asking to meet up. He says, "From then on, I was hooked. There's not one day we don't laugh or be silly together. She's my best friend and a wonderful mother to our four beautiful children." Emilene tells us, "It was an easy, 'Yes,' to meet up. In fact, the more we met up the more I knew for sure he was the one. He makes me laugh every day and it doesn't matter what life throws at us as he's my Brightside."
Emily met Joe at a gin bar while she was in her final year of college. There was an instant attraction from both sides. Joe credits the cobbled streets of Bath, at least in part, for the success of their first date. When walking Emily to the bus stop she was wobbling around on them in her high heels and he was able to offer his arm to assist her – "And that was really where our love story began," Emily says.
Ben winked at me while ice-skating on our first date, and in that exact moment I knew I'd found something special in this person," says Hannah. It was remembering this special moment that made Ben book ice-skating for them again at the same rink while on a weekend away together in Bath a few years later.
Carla and Matt met online. "I liked how down to earth, kind, and understanding Matt was and how easily the conversation flowed," says Carla. "Matt said that he fell for how kind and sweet I am."
Kylie and Joe met 14 years ago thanks to a mutual friend. "Our bond was ignited by our shared sense of humour, which quickly brought us closer together," says Kylie. "Our connection grew, leading us to embark on numerous dates and lots of fun activities, which included a lot of sight-seeing."
Charlotte and Jerry met through mutual friends on a night out. "Jerry was so easy to talk to and we found out pretty quickly that we have the same dry sense of humour!" Charlotte tells us. "We've been inseparable ever since."
Chloe and Ryan met through a mutual friend. "I used to be a barber and cut Ryan's hair," says Chloe. "We bonded through our love of Harry Potter, and the rest is history."
Hannah and Robs met on a dating app. "However, after six months we went our separate ways as it just wasn't the right time," says Hannah. "Two years, a pandemic and two break-ups later, I messaged Robs again – and that was it; I wasn't letting her get away! I'll never forget tipsily screaming, 'Will you be my girlfriend?' at Durham Pride in the rain, and she moved in five months later."
Catherine and Steve met on a dating website in 2011 and had their first date at a pub in Brynmill, Swansea. "We were both single parents, so we had that in common," says Catherine. "We hit it off right away, and I loved his eyes and that he liked my laugh."Years later, the happy couple went to look at wedding rings together. "I liked one, but it was very expensive, so we decided to leave it and go home," shares the bride. "That weekend was our anniversary, and we celebrated by going back to the pub where we first met. Steve proposed to me that night with the ring that I had fallen in love with."
Rachel and Ghandi met at a friend's party. "At the party, Ghandi asked how my son was doing (from a previous marriage), and the rest is history," says Rachel. "There's a 17-year age gap between us, which on paper shouldn't work, but as Ghandi says, he's Peter Pan and has never grown up, so that helps!
Sam and Beth met in 2013 while they were both working part-time at Homebase. "I worked on the customer service desk, and Beth was on the shop floor," says Sam. "I was newly 'out' in the LBGT world and noticed Beth during one of our shifts. Beth was quiet and no one knew her name, so I plucked up the courage to go over and invite her on a night out with the girls.
Nicola and Ian met at school back in the 80s. "We then went to the same college, where Ian asked me out on the steps in front of his friends – and I said, 'No!'" says Nicola. "Years passed, then one day Ian popped up on Facebook as a friend suggestion. Messaging each other, he explained he was getting divorced, so being a lawyer I offered my help and suggested a coffee date. That first coffee was lovely; a great catch up while talking about the legal stuff. The next time we met was to get his divorce and conveyancing moving. Ian then asked me out for a third time for no reason, saying we should go for a walk the next morning. We talked for hours, then as we said goodbye he kissed me. Boom – that's when I knew this was something special."
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