Real Weddings from Your Midlands Wedding

Winter Wonderland

Hayley and Craig's story began 21 years ago when they crossed paths as holiday reps in Majorca. They got engaged and were all set to tie the knot in 2006, but they were both a bit too young and didn't fully appreciate what they had, leading them to part ways. However, fate had other plans, and their paths intertwined once again a few years ago, rekindling their love.

Kiss and Bloom

Ceri and Gareth have worked at Rowton Castle for many years and met within the extraordinary setting in 2007. Fast forward time, they've been together for more than 10 years. Gareth proposed on the 19th of September 2022 at an altitude of 3,842 metres. They had just stepped into the Aiguille du Midi Skywalk (the glass room at Mont Blanc) when Gareth got down on one knee. Ceri recalls that it was quite possibly the best distraction from the terrifying height they were at. The proposal had been nearly a year in the planning, with their entire holiday to Lake Annecy revolving around this day trip to Chamonix. Ceri had no idea and was shocked!

Disco Inferno

These lovebirds met at a vocational university focused on backstage theatre, where they essentially worked for free. Jess was a Scenic Artist, and Jay took on the role of Stage Manager, which often meant that Jay would tell Jess what to do, and Jess would playfully ignore the instructions. Their connection blossomed through mutual friends, who would end up being their bridesmaids six years later. Fast forward time, the pair had a heartfelt conversation about how they felt about each other and their dreams for the future, which led to Jay catching a bus to the nearest Pandora store to purchase some rings. Meanwhile, Jess found herself in a bit of a panic while Jay was gone. By the time Jay returned, it was dinner time, and Jess whipped up some ham sandwiches. They shared a cup of tea, and then, in the cosy kitchen of their student digs, Jay proposed. In a sweet twist, Jess accepted with the ring and proposed back. Just thirty minutes later, they attended a university event and excitedly shared the news with everyone

Bold and Beautiful

Emily and Ted were introduced by mutual friends. Ted's best man is a local farmer with a younger sister named Sasha, who happens to be one of Emily's good friends. Their first encounter took place at Sasha's birthday celebration in Fulham. At that moment, Emily was in a relationship, so nothing significant occurred between them, but they certainly caught each other's attention. Ted had a bit of a crush on Emily, and she recalls him being quite charming. A few months later, after ending her relationship, Emily took the initiative to message Ted directly. Just like that, their love story began!

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Julia and Tom connected through a dating app during lockdown. They chose a nearby park, maintaining a safe distance to adhere to Covid-19 guidelines for their fi rst meeting. They enjoyed playing board games and munching on cookies. Tom shared that Julia's smile and playful humour initially attracted him. Meanwhile, Julia was captivated by Tom's ginger hair and gentle personality – the rest was history!

Love Story

Charlotte and Sam met back in secondary school, so they've known each other since they were about 12 years old. For a while, they weren't particularly close friends. That changed when they started studying together after school for their A-levels. Ironically, it wasn't until after graduation that they began dating, just before heading off to separate universities more than 100 miles apart. Sam made it a point to travel home nearly every weekend to visit Charlotte, while she juggled her studies and work shifts. He was drawn to her caring and selfless nature. He appreciates her adventurous spirit and how she always encourages him to step outside of his comfort zone. Charlotte was initially attracted to Sam's calm and soothing demeanour. As they grew closer, she fell in love with his unwavering loyalty to his loved ones and fierce dedication to their well-being. Sam is the calm in any storm for her, the yin to her yang.

Love Al Fresco

This lovely couple found each other on Tinder! Justyna was drawn to Aaron's easygoing personality and willingness to embrace new ideas. Plus, she thought he had a fantastic jawline! After connecting on the app, they wasted no time arranging a coffee date. Justyna is stunning, so Aaron felt a bit starstruck when they fi rst met. As they chatted, it became clear they had so much in common and they walked away from that fi rst date, feeling something signifi cant had just begun.

A Dream-Worthy Day

Michael and Chantell were together for four wonderful years before they decided to get engaged. Their connection was instant, fueled by their similar personalities, and they were destined to be a couple. The day after celebrating Chantell's 35th birthday during a weekend getaway to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, one of her favourite places, Michael surprised Chantell by proposing. It was a moment she would never forget! Together, they planned the perfect wedding with showstopping touches.

True Love

This charming couple crossed paths on the dancefl oor of a neighbourhood pub, where they instantly fell for each other's incredible dancing skills – the rest is history! Adi popped the question the instant Adele stepped indoors after her trip to Thailand, where he had been home taking care of the dog. It was such an unexpected moment!

All You Need Is Love

These lovebirds fi rst crossed paths through mutual friends and eventually, Josie found herself working for Tristan a few years later. Their bond grew over their shared love for beer and movies, plus their passion for good food brought them closer over time – the rest is history! Tristan surprised Josie with a romantic weekend getaway to Dublin, followed by a heartfelt proposal. Since they had already discussed marriage, it wasn't entirely unexpected for Josie. She recalls, "We had just purchased our fi rst home together, so everything was happening simultaneously. Tristan had planned to propose in one of the gardens in Dublin after our dinner, but unfortunately, it was closed for the evening when we passed by. Instead, he suggested we walk back to the hotel. He intended to pop the question during the walk but accidentally stumbled off a curb and twisted his ankle! We eventually returned to the hotel and luckily, our room had a stunning view. That's when he asked me to marry him. Looking back now, it's defi nitely a funny story!"

Heart To Heart

These lovebirds fi rst crossed paths at Alton Towers in 2012. It all started on the staff bus when John threw cereal at Amber, hoping to make her laugh. Unfortunately, it didn't have the desired effect and annoyed her instead. Despite this rocky start, John decided to take a chance and asked Amber out for an evening. Little did they know, this would begin a beautiful journey together! Fast forward to a special moment at their favourite theme park, Europa Park in Germany, John chose this magical setting to propose to Amber. He kept it a secret with the help of his future best man, James, who cleverly disguised their plans by telling Amber they were meeting a press and marketing lady before the Ice Show. In reality, they were fi nalising the details with the team who would assist with the proposal.

True Love

These lovebirds first encounted each other in a Wetherspoons, sporting their pajamas during the yearly medical school pub crawl back in 2013. Emily surprised Gareth by being punctual for once and since there weren't many others around, they immediately initiated a conversation. However, it wasn't until they relocated to Shrewsbury in 2016 that they began dating; the rest is history!

Love Is In The Air

These lovebirds met on a night out in their hometown. Peter was home for Christmas from the military and was introduced to Lauren through mutual friends – there was an instant attraction between the two! Lauren comments, "I fi rst noticed how outgoing Peter was and loved his blue eyes plus tattoos. We spent New Year's Eve together dancing and drinking; our fi rst kiss was at midnight!" Peter comments, "Lauren took my breath away as soon as she walked into the room, I knew I needed to get to know this girl! I remember exactly what she wore: a red dress and a black shawl. I was immediately comfortable in her presence and couldn't wait to get to know her more – the rest is history!"

True Love

A mutual friend set up Dan and Zoe, who hit it off after exchanging numbers! The pair bonded over time and fell in love while creating memorable moments – the rest is history! Dan hates big events or being the centre of attention, a big wedding was never on the cards, and Zoe gave up hope that a proposal would happen. However, that was all about to change! They went to Ninja Warrior UK Gloucester with the kids on her 30th birthday. Time had slipped away, and the family rushed back to prepare for a meal. Zoe comments, "Dan agreed to get the kids sorted and I quickly went upstairs to get myself ready, but the kids kept calling me constantly. I was annoyed and confused about why Dan wasn't getting them ready like I had asked. I came stomping downstairs to fi nd rose petals in the hallway leading to the living room. I walked into the candle-lit living room to fi nd Dan, my daughter Gracie and my son Oliver, each down on one knee with a poster saying, 'Will you marry me?' and I was utterly shocked!"

Love On Top

These lovebirds crossed paths on Tinder in September 2020, just before the second Covid lockdown was imposed. Brett postponed the initial date, and Emily almost called off the second one, so they were very close to missing each other – thankfully, they didn't! They went on three or four dates, so had to decide if they would form each other's social bubble. Emily recalls, "We had so many shared interests, like a passion for food and drinks, vacations and sports – the rest is history. We kept meeting up, going on dates and enjoying each other's company. After three months, he asked me to be his girlfriend, and I moved in with Brett about a year later!"

Fall In Love

In March 2016, Daisy arrived at a pub in Kington, Worcestershire. "I was there with another man," says Daisy. "Barnaby, the barman and waiter for the evening, caught my eye. We chatted and flirted, but then I left with the other man. After a swift 24 hours and enlisting the help of my maid-of-hour, I hunted for this mystery bar man via the pub's Facebook page, scrolling through hundreds of photos until I found him. I immediately added him on Facebook and the rest is history."

Rustic Bliss

Hayley and Simon were set up on a date by a mutual friend. "He was kind and loyal and we wanted the same things in life," says Hayley. "He was also very chatty and funny."

Love Blooms

Marguerite and Jason met eight years ago in London. "I was looking for a space to rent and Jason's house share had a room available," says Marguerite. "I was in touch with Jason's flatmate, but at the last minute he couldn't show me around, but he mentioned that his flatmate, Jason, would do it instead. It's a bit cliché to say it was love at first sight, but since the moment he opened that door, I knew I wanted to get to know him better. I even called one of my friends after the visit and said that if I don't get the room, I'll ask for his number. In the end, I didn't need it, as they offered me the room. Once I moved in, we started to chat a lot and go out as friends until six months later, when we finally admitted our feelings to each other."

Let's Get Ready To Wed

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."

Love At First Swipe

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."