See how other couples celebrated their big day with wedding stories and ideas from County Wedding Magazines' Real Weddings features.
Sophie and Harry met through mutual friends while attending university in Liverpool. There was an instant attraction, thanks to their similar sense of humour.
Maddy and Dan met seven years ago via a dating app. They didn't live in the same area at the time, so their first date was a bit last minute and brief, just to get an idea of what could be. Neither expected then what it would turn into. During that quick coffee at Cafe Nero, they were struck by how similar they were: both home bodies, passionate about reading, and adore dogs.
Ruth and Sam met in 2012 at a ski resort in New Zealand. It was Sam's third time there as a seasonaire, but Ruth's very first. "So, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing," Ruth says. We're told that there's an unwritten rule when it comes to learning to ski or snowboard: you should never let your significant other teach you if you don't want it to end badly.
Izzy and Alex met at the Truro Hockey Club and both still play for the club now. They became engaged when Alex proposed in St. Ives. "He popped the question with his nana's ring which is stunning," Izzy tells us. "We had gone to do some last-minute Christmas shopping when he asked me to marry him! We went for lunch and then he surprised me by inviting our parents and his brother for dinner. He had secretly booked additional annual leave for us both for the following day and we all stayed in St. Ives to celebrate."
Abbie and Alan met through a mutual friend. "We were introduced at a gig – I had expressed interest in him and we hit it off straight away!" Abbie says. "Alan proposed during a stay at a log cabin in Cornwall just after my 30th birthday with our closest friends gathered around. It was a wonderful surprise because he had led me to believe for a long time that he wasn't interested in getting married!"
These lovebirds met on a dating app and hit it off immediately! Aimee says, "In one of Ben's photos, he looked very handsome in a threepiece navy suit snacking on a large 'share bag' of blue Doritos. The contradiction of his suited and booted style with his student eating habits was something I immediately knew I wanted to learn more about. So I swiped, and we connected. After chatting for a few weeks, we met at Boltons Bench in the New Forest, a semi-equal distance between Poole and Southampton.
Kelly was cutting her client's hair at their home when she first met Damian, who also asked for a trim even though he was definitely not due for a haircut. Just like that, their love story began!
Rebecca stumbled across Owen's Instagram after seeing his work as a PT at a local gym before following him and meeting at a local pub in Winchester for their first date. She says, "We actually only lived down the road from each other and were surprised that we had never encountered one another. After chatting for several hours, we realised that we were both very family-orientated with the same values, something which we were both looking for in long-term partners."
Alex and Hollie met at university. From friendship more blossomed and the pair were inseparable. On a summer's walk along Maldon Promenade, Alex popped the question and of course, Hollie said yes! On Friday 13th October 2023, Hollie and Alexander Martin married at Layer Marney Tower. Here, Hollie tells us more about their day..
The couple describe their meeting as 'a swipe right romance', meeting on Bumble some six years ago. Since then, they've fallen in love over a shared obsession of listening to vinyl, going to gigs and learning new instruments. Megan tells us, "Everyone was surprised when we got engaged as we're not a couple based on tradition. However, it was the easiest yes in the world. Ollie took me to the pub where we first met, and as we walked up to it, he asked where I had stood whilst I waited for him. As I pointed out the spot, he took the ring out of his pocket, went down on one knee and held out the most perfect engagement ring; a diamond set between two skulls. That evening we did exactly what we did on our first date, visited every pub again and got a donner kebab on the way home, perfect!"
Paige and Joel met in 2015 through mutual friends on an unplanned night out. Following a summer getting to know each other attending festivals and going on holidays, the couple knew things were getting serious. Soon enough Paige and Joel became homeowners and soon the pitter patter paws of a puppy came along, Koba!
Amber and Jack met through a mutual friend, and Amber straight away found herself attracted to Jack's sense of humour. We fast forward a few years and the couple, now parents, were in their garden for a gathering to celebrate their little girl's birthday, when Jack got down on one knee and popped the question. "We'd spoken about it for a long time, I'd even picked out a ring, but it was still a surprise," Amber remembers.
Annalisse and Greg had known each other as teenagers, but it wasn't until they matched on Tinder that they really connected. "When I got the notification, I pulled the car over so that I could message her straight back, she'd always had a special place in my heart," Greg remembers. "Since then there hasn't been a single day we haven't spoken. It was always meant to be," Annalisse continues.
Kara and Robbie met nine years ago when Kara signed up to take part in a charity boxing match that Robbie was coaching. "The first thing he ever said to me was 'how many fingers am I holding up?' after a roller derby girl smashed me in the face while sparring," says Kara. "Our relationship blossomed and in May 2022, Robbie proposed during a weekend away in Amsterdam."
Nicky and Scott met on a dating website. "Our first date consisted of drinks and a meal," says Nicky. "We found that we had a connection straight away and Scott consistently made me laugh and was a complete gentleman."
Staci and Adam met at a networking event at Worcester Racecourse. "A couple of years later, we matched with each other on a dating app and our relationship quickly blossomed," says Staci. "Adam is a big horseracing fan and I've started going with him occasionally, which is funny since we first met each other at the races."
When Sherene was looking to have her bathroom redone Horace was recommended to her by a friend. She called him to arrange a time to give her a quote and ended up chatting on the phone for 20 minutes. When he turned up on her doorstep, eyes lit up on both sides but they didn't get together for a further two years, even though Sherene kept asking him back to do more work!
Kimberley and Charles met when Kimberley was based in Cheltenham and Charles was located in Birmingham. "We shared a similar sense of humour and Charles' confidence and charisma attracted me to him," Kimberley tells us. "Kimberley's kind nature and thoughtfulness drew me to her," Charles adds.
These lovebirds initially met while working together on a ward at a local NHS hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic. They started dating as restrictions subsided and restaurants opened again. They were both attracted to the fact they were hard-working and intelligent while also being caring and compassionate in their work.
These lovebirds met through a mutual friend and hit it off immediately one evening at a bar – the rest is history! Paddy proposed in December 2022 while putting the Christmas decorations up in their first home together. Vicky comments, "It was perfect as he knows I didn't like a fuss; this was so intimate and very much a surprise!"
These lovebirds would always see each other around but started talking during sixth form, where Alice was instantly attracted to Ryan's humour. She officially became his girlfriend in 2012 after he came back from his first year at university – the rest is history! Alice has been going on family holidays to Cornwall since childhood! So naturally, Ryan joined these special trips over the years. On 17th April 2021, Ryan proposed on Porthminster Beach in St Ives, which was a complete surprise! Alice comments, "We'd already been together for nine years, so all of our friends and family asked when he would pop the question, but I was never expecting it. He asked the question the evening before my parents arrived so that we could enjoy the rest of the trip celebrating with my family."Here, the bride shares details about their special day...
These lovebirds met at ASOS in 2017, a few months after Chloe had started at the company. Two of her friends spotted Jack, who had just completed his induction, and they knew he would be her type! Chloe says, "It wasn't long before they acted as our dating gurus, and we shortly exchanged numbers. A week later, Jack organised a brilliant date night at Cote in St Albans, and it was clear after our first date we were attracted to one another. We had lots in common with the same life values."
These lovebirds met on their first day of university! Hannah says, "We wouldn't say it was love at first sight, but it was friends at first sight! We were extremely close throughout this time, and our relationship blossomed!" Jay proposed on Barricane Beach in September 2021 – a complete surprise for Hannah. It was his third attempt in the four days they were away.
Gem and Matt met at university and soon discovered a lot in common both in terms of interests and values. They became friends, and even now, after their relationship blossomed into something much more, Matt still says that Gem is his best mate. During lockdown the couple converted an old school mini bus into a campervan and planned a four-week trip around the UK for when it was completed in the summer of '21, taking them from Durdle Door to the NC 500 in Scotland. When they arrived at the campsite at their first stop and finished setting up, they headed down to the beach at Durdle Door for a sunset walk. It was at this romantic spot right on the shoreline, that Matt proposed. "I was completely shocked and so happy," Gem tells us.
These lovebirds met while working on Blue Peter during a team lunch, and their smiles attracted them to each other. After chatting back and forth via emails, followed by a friend's leaving do, the pair decided to go on a date. They played 20 questions over dinner, then spent a further four hours talking in the car till 2 am before Bec flew off to Australia for a couple of months. They didn't want to make anything official too quickly, but Tim picked her up from Heathrow when she returned, and the rest is history
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