See how other couples celebrated their big day with wedding stories and ideas from County Wedding Magazines' Real Weddings features.
Soon after they met online Katie and Kieron set up their first date. When they met at a local pub there was an instant attraction, neither could stop smiling and both knew this felt different.
Hannah and Andrew were friends before becoming a couple. "We started secondary school together where we were in the same tutor group," Hannah tells us. "We both went off to different colleges and then universities but when we moved home, we started hanging out again. We finally became a couple in 2013 and our new adventure began. We went travelling together, came back and purchased our first house and then our beautiful puppy, Rio, came along at the end of 2020. Having our long friendship as our beginning means we have seen each other for who we are."
Lydia and Damien met at university and quickly became great friends, bonding over laughter, silliness and a shared love of festivals and animals. It wasn't until six years later though that their loyal friendship turned into something more and they began dating.
Daisy and Chris met via Instagram. "It transpired that our paths had nearly crossed at various stages of our lives," Daisy tells us. "At one point, our parents lived one street away from one another; we attended the same high school (although Chris had finished before I joined) and we almost both ended up at the same university! We bonded over our love of the television sitcom Friends, our family values and our passion for travel. We also both quickly discovered how particular we both are — a useful trait when you want to be super organised planning a wedding!"
Nicola and Andrew originally met in college, but went their separate ways after graduation. The two became friends again in 2001 and by 2012 their relationship had blossomed into something much more. Andrew popped the question at the couple's home over a Bonfire Night weekend. Having tried on numerous occasions to find the right time on 5th November, it eventually happened after cooking dinner for the two of them on the 6th!
Rosie and Jordi met through mutual friends at Glastonbury Festival back in 2013, and their wedding day took place 10 years later to the day, which couldn't have been more poignant for them. During a tense time for the country, in December 2021, while we were in lockdown but permitted a day to mix with one other household, Jordi proposed in front of Rosie's family at her home. "Safe to say, everyone needed a reason to celebrate at that time and we definitely did that," Rosie says.
Chloe and Matt met at a mutual friend's birthday party when they were 18. There was an initial attraction but they didn't exchange numbers until the following year after bumping into each other again at a club in Bristol. After some texting back and forth they went on their first date and the rest is history.
Frances and Tom met when they both worked for Jack Wills in Marlow. "A few years later, I liked Tom's new profile picture on Facebook and we reconnected instantly and it was the start of our love story!" Frances tells us. "We went on our first date later that week and for our second date, Tom took me for drinks at Aqua in The Shard - he was trying to impress me! We didn't stop talking and laughing all night - I knew he was someone very special."
Joanna and Dan met at school. "I went to his sixth form and we were best friends and started dating after we finished school," Joanna tells us. "We went travelling around South America before moving to London from Reading. To propose, Dan took me to Hampstead Heath one Sunday and asked me to marry him. We enjoyed a pub dinner afterwards and as a surprise, he had pre-arranged for my friends and family to be there!"
Lucy and Harvey met at a friend's wedding in 2016 when Lucy was a bridesmaid and Harvey was a groomsman. "We met the day before the wedding and immediately hit it off," Lucy tells us. Harvey adds, "I spent the morning of the wedding wondering if it was ok to ask the groom if Lucy was single! She looked stunning as a bridesmaid and it soon became clear that there was something special between us."
Katie and Darren first laid eyes on each other when they became next-door neighbours. "We always got along well whenever we bumped into each other, but Darren moved to another house and soon after, so did I," says Katie. "A few years later, we met at work after I started a new job at the same place as Darren. We were put on the same team during a period of 12-hour shifts and instantly hit it off. There was a mutual attraction and an instant spark between us.
Sam and Jen first laid eyes on each other in 2018. "I remember that day like it was yesterday," says Jen. "We met at work, although I use the term 'met' loosely because, at first, she seemed to have no idea that I existed. I walked into the office kitchen and there she was, sitting at the table, engrossed in a book. Sam was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen and I couldn't help but feel an instant connection, even though we hadn't exchanged a word.
Melisa and Josh met in 2018 at Valley Church. "Josh had been going there for years, but I had just joined," says Melisa. "I saw him playing bass with the worship team and I was attracted to him right away. I loved how funny he is and that he lights up a room."
Sam and Iain met through a mutual friend and instantly hit it off. "We really enjoyed each other's company and shared a similar sense of humour," says Sam. "It felt so easy and natural talking to one another."
Izzy and Ryan were brought together through unusual circumstances. "The first time I met Ryan, we were introduced by my previous partner in a nightclub, as he was one of his friends," says Izzy. "I met him a couple of times after that, but we didn't really speak much. A few years later, we found out that our partners were seeing each other behind our backs! Ryan and I started to message each other about it and the more we chatted, the more we realised we had lots in common and very similar values. Once I got to know Ryan, I discovered we went to the same high school and knew a lot of the same people."
Laura and Danny met, like most modern couples, online. "We spoke by text for a few weeks before meeting for a drink," says Laura. "We've been together ever since."
Jess and James met through mutual friends in 2012 and found mutual interests in music and festivals for a relationship to soon blossom. James proposed to Jess on 17th December 2021 on a cold Christmas getaway to Berlin, Germany, which was a surprise to the unsuspecting bride-to-be. The big date was set, 13th May, 2023, with Reach Court Farm setting the scene.
Ashleigh and Joe met by chance. "It all started with an encounter in Yates, Hartlepool, after I had been out in Newcastle for the day for my friend's birthday," says Ashleigh. "Joe had been out with his dad and they decided to have a cheeky stop in town before heading home. When one of the best mixes came on over the speakers, a dance off broke out with boys vs girls. Joe saw his chance to take the centre of the circle, but little did he know that I would break out into dance and steal the show. A few weeks after our chance encounter, we crossed paths again on Tinder, and as we recognised each other, we started talking and eventually organised our first date."
Sophie and Sam instantly clicked 10 years ago when they met on a night out at Kent University; Sophie was a student and Sam was out with his rugby team. After starting a relationship Sam later proposed while the couple were in Thailand after a day of exploring the Phiphi Islands on a secluded beach. "He felt like it was the right moment, after carrying the ring in a box on a wobbly boat for the entire day!" shares Sophie. "It was near the beginning of the holiday, so it gave us a good excuse to celebrate for the remaining duration!"
Abbie and James met on Tinder and quickly became friends. The couple spoke for three months before going on their first date. "We are both family-oriented and have the same interests," says Abbie. "We were able to talk for hours and get to know each other well before starting to date. We became a couple in March 2017 and have been together for more than six years."James popped the question at Rhossili Sunflower Arch in August 2020. "We had spoken about getting engaged for over a year prior to this," shares the bride. "Despite this, it was a total surprise on the day when he proposed."
Amy and Dan met when they were 17 and hit it off straight away. "I worked in a tearoom and Dan worked in a fruit and vegetable shop and delivered to us. Dan was the guy that all the ladies fancied so I thought there was no chance; he was handsome with dark hair and chatty, I thought: he's a bit of alright!" Dan adds, "Amy was always chatty too, she never stopped talking; plus, as she worked in the tearooms I would always get a free breakfast!"
Lisa and Nigel met each other online. "I was attracted to his devilish good looks," says Lisa. "We have similar personalities and the same goals in life. Our relationship grew, and Nigel asked me to marry him during a family holiday to Tenerife. Everyone knew he was going to ask except for me, so it was a big surprise!"
These lovebirds met in December 2019 while playing in a tag rugby Christmas-themed tournament. During the prizegiving and drinks celebrations afterwards, Rob fired a champagne cork at Lucy's head to get her attention. It worked, as he managed to get her number!
Hannah and Lee met online in 2014, when they were 16 and 17 years old. "We arranged to have our first date in Bristol," says Hannah. "We had a long-distance relationship, as Lee was from Somerset and I lived in South Wales. Over the years, our relationship blossomed and we bought our first house together in April 2020."
These lovebirds met at a friend's reeling party in Clapham and had their first date a few weeks later at a cocktail bar in Kings Cross – the rest is history! Chris proposed in Venice in October 2021. It was an extremely wellthought-out and planned surprise!
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