See how other couples celebrated their big day with wedding stories and ideas from County Wedding Magazines' Real Weddings features.
These two lovebirds were introduced by their friends while at university. They joined a group to catch a rugby match in Cardiff, and by the night's end, they spent time alone together. Ella was the fi rst to ask for Adam's number in their friends' Facebook group chat. They clicked instantly, sharing the same sense of humour and feeling at ease being playful with one another
In 2015, these lovebirds crossed paths. Both had been through lengthy relationships before – Corinne for 27 years and David for 16 years – and each had children from those past unions. They wanted a true-life partner rather than just a fleeting romance. Interestingly, they met on Tinder, an app often linked with casual encounters. They both swiped right, and soon after, David reached out to Corinne while watching Spectre in a nearly empty cinema on the Isle of Wight. Coincidentally, Corinne was also at the cinema, attending a black-tie charity event and watching the same film simultaneously. Their conversation flowed easily, covering topics like their recent breakups, their kids, their passions, and what they wanted in a partner
After 11 years together as a couple Steve proposed to Maria in their kitchen. "I responded by saying "yes" and after wiping away tears, the perfect ring was presented to me," Maria says. "The rest, as they say, is now part of our history."
Online dating soon turned to true love for Jenine and Michael. In front of family and friends on Jenine's birthday, Michael popped the question – and it was a resounding yes! Wedding planning commenced and on 21st October 2024 they tied the know at Little Channels.
Ally and Stuart met at work. Both taking on overtime simply to spend more time together, they knew they were more than friends. Love blossomed and before they knew it, they were buying their fi rst home and welcoming a new addition to the family. Ally was eight months' pregnant when Stuart proposed, and of course, she said, yes!
Lois and Kieran met through a mutual friend in 2016. Following a few years of dating, under the warm Milan sun, Kieran popped the question. The ring, specially designed by Kieran, fitted perfectly! Delighted, they celebrated their engagement with Champagne, followed by an evening out at a gorgeous Italian restaurant. Wedding planning commenced and Lois and Kieran Handford said their vows on 11th April 2024 at Braxted Park Estate
Although Nejma and John had bumped into each other a few times since they lived so close, they didn't meet offi cially until Nejma's 18th birthday party where she surprised John with a running man dance routine! They became inseparable. "I was attracted to his piercing green eyes and sense of humour," Nejma shares. While John says, "She was really good looking and a really bad dancer!"
Alice and Tom met in the pub on Christmas Eve 2013. Alice was trying to break up a fi ght between mutual friends at the time, and Tom swept in to pull her away. "He'll say it as my bright orange hair that attracted him, while I love the fact that he just wasn't fazed by the drama unfolding around him and fully focused on me," Alice remembers. "I also thought he had great fashion sense, although his choice of socks really had me questioning that on our wedding day!"
Lucy and Matt met at the MMA Academy in Liverpool where Lucy had joined the Muay Thai class and Matt was a coach and fighter. It wasn't love at first sight and they took a while to pluck up the (Dutch) courage to take things further on a night out in the City. "It was definitely a case of opposites attract," Lucy says. "Neither of us was each other's type, but somehow it seems to work and within a few weeks we were living together!"
Amina and Leo met at The Totnes Brewing Company. "His laugh, height, and desire to help others through his volunteer work helping refugees and the homeless attracted me to him," Amina tells us. Leo adds, "I loved Amina's ambition, courage and how she looks at life."
Harriet and Tom met on the dating app Bumble in 2017. "Our first date was at the Oyster Shed, a wine bar along the River Thames by London Bridge where we immediately hit it off and after hours of non-stop talking, we arranged our second date for just two days later," Harriet tells us. "We had so much in common and we bonded over our love of travel, dogs and family."
Sophie and Matthew met on Tinder and chatted for a few weeks before deciding to meet. Matthew picked Sophie up and took her to Macdonalds for a milkshake. "It wasn't a big deal but we had the best day ever," she remembers. When he dropped her back home, he asked her to come to his car boot. Sophie wondered what he was playing at but went anyway. There she found 11 big red roses waiting for her. "It's safe to say that from this moment, I knew he was the one for me," she shares.
Isi and Stu met on Tinder. "We swiped right and whoo we were a match," Isi says. A very successful match as it turns out since Stu ultimately decided to propose. He took her to watch Liverpool play at Anfi eld for the fi rst time and booked an overnight stay for them in the city. While there, they paid a visit to the Liver Building and took a tour to the top. Here, as Isi was busy taking selfi es, Stu got down on one knee and proposed with Anfi eld in the background. After she said "yes" he presented her with a football jersey bearing the words "I said 'yes'" and the number 23 on the back, the year of the proposal.
Being alone during the pandemic had a profound affect on Kelly. It allowed her to slow down and reflect on what she cherished in life. She realised that she hadn't been prioritising what she really wanted: her own family. So, on her birthday she made a wish and a decision to meet her soulmate. That night she created her profile on a dating website. The next morning she woke up to an amazing message from Erika. "I knew I had to respond, and it was the best thing I ever did," she says. By the time it was safe for the couple to meet, Kelly already knew Erika was the one. "Meeting her was like coming home," she explains, "I've never been more certain of anything in my life." Wishes really do come true.
Phoebe and Greg met through Phoebe's mum, Susie who introduced them. "She was Greg's manager for a few years in a job he had while also studying at university and she thought he would make the perfect son-in-law!" Phoebe tells us. "She used to let Greg leave work early so that we could go on dates and when I started working in the same job, she would assign us to the same shifts. We used to have such fun working together and were both always desperate to spend more time together - she was a great matchmaker!"
Katie and Andrew knew each other from the village where they lived. "We both had previous relationships and found a friendship that grew into soulmates," they tell us. "Andrew is the kindest, most gentle and generous man," adds Katie while Andrew says, "Katie has the biggest smile and most beautiful eyes and is caring and loving."Andrew proposed in Porthleven after asking Katie's dad in person for his permission. "He just felt the time was right for our next chapter," Katie explains.
Amy and Peter met at a mutual friend's wedding reception. Peter asked Amy to dance and the connection was instant. From that moment they both knew they'd found their 'one' and the rest is history.
With plans of a proposal up a mountain on a Northern Lights tour, scuppered, Mike instead asked Helen to be his wife on a lazy Saturday morning having tea and toast in bed. It was a huge yes, of course. Mr and Mrs Hall tied the knot at Southminster Hall, followed by a party at their family home on 3rd August 2024.
Tom proposed to Natalie at a Caamp gig, their favourite band, in November 2022. Natalie describes the moment, "I didn't think he was going to propose yet as he had his great grandmother's ring that he wanted to redesign for me as an engagement ring and I knew that hadn't happened. The week before the gig, I told him about how my friend had a 'stunt' ring (which Tom had never heard of) so I was even more convinced he wasn't going to propose. But on the night in between songs, Tom kissed me on the check – I didn't really acknowledge it because I was watching the band, then he held my hand and said, 'you are my morning light' (inspiration from Caamp lyrics) and then went down on one knee and presented a ring! I screamed, didn't say yes, just grabbed the ring out of the box and put it on my finger. We both cried and Tom said, 'I take that as a yes.'"
Robin and Matt met in New Zealand during fl ight training. "It was my fi rst night in the country and I met Matt at the welcome party," recalls Robin. "The theme was silly shirts and Matt walked in dressed in a crisp white shirt which really stood out from the many Hawaiian shirts. We spoke most of the night and he persuaded me to join everyone heading into town and said, "there's a myth that a night out fi xes jet lag". He was defi nitely wrong about that, but we started dating soon after.
Jessie and Matt met jumping over fire together as part of a Spartan race! "We were in the same team together as we had a mutual friend," recalls Jessie. "Matt used to try and impress me by lifting heavy weights during our training sessions. I loved how much fun he was and how kind he could be."
Amy and Daniel fi rst laid eyes on each other in a nightclub in 2014. "My friend Louis introduced me to his cousin Daniel, and we got talking," says Amy. "I soon found out that Daniel was the most down-to-earth and kindest person I have ever met. He always said that from the moment we met, he loved me. We literally spent every day together from then until now."
Samara and Tom met at work. "Tom was hired to join the same team as me," says Samara. "We just instantly clicked and became friends, but it quickly developed into something more than friendship!"Tom proposed during a surprise trip to Paris for Samara's 30th birthday. "One evening we walked down to the Eiffel Tower and he got down on one knee," shares the bride. "He asked me to marry him and we were over the moon."
Amie and Elise met when Elise joined the local women's football team that Amie had set up. "We quickly hit it off and started hanging out at group outings with the team, enjoying each other's company more and more," says Amie. "As time went on, our friendship grew into something deeper, and before we knew it, our group outings turned into dates. One thing led to another, and we fell in love, beginning our beautiful journey together."
Steph and Abhi met through work, both being pharmacists working in the NHS. The two attended a medical conference in Basel, Switzerland, and after a few drinks and moves on the dancefl oor, they shared a kiss, and the rest is history! It wasn't long after this that Covid hit and the two formed their own bubble, supporting each other throughout this diffi cult time.
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