Where it all started.. New Years Day at a mutual friends party. Jonny had just been to the match and almost didn’t end up coming. He was planning on heading home insted, but his friends dad said he should go so ended up taking him to the shop for drinks then dropping him off at the party instead. He walked in with a crate of 20 Carling on his shoulder like he owned the place and that’s when we met. We were introduced, shook hands, and instantly hit it off (though it wasn’t until much later that Jonny told me my hand was “sweaty as f***” thanks for that). From that moment on, we were inseparable. We spent the whole night deep in conversation, laughing like old friends and ignoring everything going on around us. By the end of the night (early hours of the morning), we’d ended up staying over at our friend’s house and spent the next day hungover on her living room sofa, still chatting away and laughing. Neither of us wanted to come on too strong, so when it came to making plans, we pretended to be busy and agreed to meet the following week, even though we were both free that weekend... Looking back, it’s wild to think how one spontaneous night and a sweaty handshake brought us here.

This photo was taken on our very first official date, a week after we met (even though we were both counting down the days). We met in town and started the night with a few drinks at Harry’s Bar, easing into things like we hadn’t already spent an entire New Year’s Day together. From there, we headed to The Purple Peacock for food. After dinner, we made our way to Alvinos for a “couple more,” which quickly turned into hours of talking, and laughing. Before we knew it, the bar was closing, the lights were coming on, and neither of us wanted the night to end. Everything just clicked. The conversations flowed and there were no awkward silences, just the two of us, completely in sync. Looking back, we both agree that this was the moment we realised we had something really special.

This photo was taken during one of our many lockdown beers in the garden. Sunshine, BBQ's and probably yet another bottle of wine cracked open before 4pm... We suddenly had a big decision to make when lockdown was announced in march.. Spend the lockdown apart, or dive in headfirst and ride it out together. Jonny chose to stay with me at my parents house in Seahouses. We spent those strange, quiet months doing all the classic lockdown things such as endless Zoom quizzes, long walks along the beach, trying (and failing) to ration the wine supply, and just enjoying each other’s company in a way most new couples never get to. It was intense, in the best way. Every day together, figuring out life during such an uncertain time. When Jonny eventually got called back to work, it felt strange. After spending every single day together, going back to ‘normal’ life and not seeing each other didn't feel right. But it only confirmed what we already knew, we were in it for the long haul!

By the time this photo was taken, we’d already lived in a bubble, survived the lockdown, and spent more time together in a few months than most couples do in their first year... When we first got together in January, I was already thinking about buying a house but like so many plans, that was put on hold when Covid hit. After everything we’d been through together during lockdown, it felt like the idea of “taking things slow” had already gone out the window! So when the time came, it just made sense that Jonny moved in, and we started our next chapter navigating a new home, a new routine, and a new world together in the aftermath of Covid. It wasn’t always glamorous though (cue DIY disasters and arguments usually surrounding Jonnys intense cleaning regimes), but it was ours. Creating a home together so early on wasn’t something we’d both planned but it felt like the right thing to do. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions we ever made.

Four pints deep in San Miguel at the airport, holiday mode fully activated, then came the announcement.... our flight wasn’t leaving that day... Cue the dramas.. no idea if we would even get there, no clear plan anymore, just a lot of confused passengers and us dragging our bags back home, slightly less smug than we were a few hours earlier. Thankfully, we were rebooked for the next morning, and round two went a lot smoother. Once we actually got to Cyprus, it was worth the hassle! Sun, sea, beers, and a full week of switching off. It was our first proper trip away together, and despite the false start, it turned out to be one of our favourite memories.

Jonny surprised me with a trip to Paris for my birthday. We were flying out just two days after he told me. I had my suspicions that something was up, mainly because of the destination and the fact that it wasn't a big birthday. He told me at dinner on our first night that the next day would be a surprise day trip, but I wasn’t expecting that kind of surprise. When he said we had to be at the venue at 11 AM, I quickly changed my mind that it probably wasn’t a proposal.. We arrived at the Pont des Arts bridge, and I remember thinking, “How tacky is it that people declare their love by attaching locks to a bridge?” Then Jonny tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around, and there he was.. box in hand. Inside was a lock, and attached to it was a ring. He told me to read what was engraved on the lock: “Will you marry me?” Of course, I said yes. I remember it was a lovely quiet morning and literally just the two of us, except for the lovely French couple who walked by, hugged us, and offered to take a “kissing photo”..... Anyone who knows us knows that PDA definitely isn’t our thing, so we politely declined but asked if they'd just take a photo of the two of us instead. That photo right there is the one from that moment. It wasn't techincally a lie that we had to be somewhere for 11AM, that was his plan to throw me off track. He told me after the proposal that we would be visiting The Louvre straight after... I thought to myself.. is he for real? He's just proposed and he wants to cart me around a museum for 3 hours?? safe to say we were only there for a short while as we were both too excited to take in anything!

Fast forward to this year, and we were back in Cyprus ! This time with our friends and a wedding on the horizon. This photo was taken during our trip out to see the venue for the first time. After months of planning, back and forth with the wedding planner and second-guessing everything, it finally started to feel real. We spent the week soaking up the sun, daily barbeques, copious amounts of KEO and Stoli Vodka and getting excited about what’s to come!! Since getting engaged, we’ve bought a house, built a life together, and now we’re counting down to the big day in the place we both love. From that New Year’s party to this moment, sweaty handshakes, lockdowns, flight delays, and everything in between, it’s been the most chaotic but exciting journey and we can’t wait to celebrate the next chapter with all of you in Cyprus !