What a whirlwind dating in your 30s is - but after taking the plunge and surviving my excellent jokes over messenger and phone dates, Bex finally agreed to a first irl date.

Being ever so sophisticated and wanting to impress with my golf skills I suggested a date at Putt Shack. Naturally, I won but Bex's good humour (and a few cocktails) meant she overlooked this indiscretion on this occasion and agreed to dinner.

Fast forward a few dates and it was obvious we were besotted - the breaks apart as I navigated time with my beautiful daughter meant we savoured those early precious moments, on the phone or together. Our love for travel naturally resulted in booking a lot of trips - Tenerife, Ecuador or Bournemouth - Bex's love of the sparkling ocean being a regular draw.

Over the next 18 months before the proposal, family on both sides welcomed each other with open arms and love and I am eternally grateful to the Collins clan for being so good-humoured. Thank you to everyone from Tracy to the youngest member of the family, Florrie, (not forgetting all the guinea pigs and hamsters)for being so warm.

As we have grown closer and moved in together, Katey has found a partner in crime be it escape rooms, suffering with audible eyerolling at another Dad joke or someone to have in their corner when persuading Dad to do something - and I love both my girls for keeping me on my toes.

Anyone that knows Bex will attest - whilst a fun loving woman with a wicked sense of humour, she is fearless in what she wants and us together was in her sights. Discussions about future dreams, aspirations, desires and values meant I couldn't not fall deeply and madly in love with her and proposing as we were in Miami was a no-brainer.

So after realising that we would be celebrating our 500th day since our first date, I knew I couldn't let this occasion pass and set out recreating our first date with a trip to Putt Shack (yes there was one in Miami!) in Miami, dinner and a proposal that left mi amor breathless, ecstatic and slightly annoyed at me for being able to surprise her so well.

Now we welcome all of our close friends and family to join us as we cement our love in front of those that we love - and celebrate our nuptials with us on Monday 29 July 2024.