Real Weddings from Your East Midlands Wedding

See how other local couples celebrated their big day with inspirational weddings and bridal stories from Real Weddings features in Your East Midlands Wedding.

Real Weddings: Spring Fever

Spring Fever

These lovebirds would always see each other around but started talking during sixth form, where Alice was instantly attracted to Ryan's humour. She officially became his girlfriend in 2012 after he came back from his first year at university – the rest is history! Alice has been going on family holidays to Cornwall since childhood! So naturally, Ryan joined these special trips over the years. On 17th April 2021, Ryan proposed on Porthminster Beach in St Ives, which was a complete surprise! Alice comments, "We'd already been together for nine years, so all of our friends and family asked when he would pop the question, but I was never expecting it. He asked the question the evening before my parents arrived so that we could enjoy the rest of the trip celebrating with my family."Here, the bride shares details about their special day...

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Real Weddings: The Perfect Day

The Perfect Day

These lovebirds met on their first day of university! Hannah says, "We wouldn't say it was love at first sight, but it was friends at first sight! We were extremely close throughout this time, and our relationship blossomed!" Jay proposed on Barricane Beach in September 2021 – a complete surprise for Hannah. It was his third attempt in the four days they were away.

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Real Weddings: Pretty In Pink

Pretty In Pink

These lovebirds met while working on Blue Peter during a team lunch, and their smiles attracted them to each other. After chatting back and forth via emails, followed by a friend's leaving do, the pair decided to go on a date. They played 20 questions over dinner, then spent a further four hours talking in the car till 2 am before Bec flew off to Australia for a couple of months. They didn't want to make anything official too quickly, but Tim picked her up from Heathrow when she returned, and the rest is history

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Real Weddings: Rustic Romance

Rustic Romance

David came back from university and met Sophie, who was working behind the bar in a local pub. A few weeks later, the pair bumped into each other and exchanged numbers – the rest is history! Fast forward time, David popped the question and the couple tied the knot on August 6th 2022. They planned the perfect day full of fun

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Real Weddings: Love Is In The Air

Love Is In The Air

Eleanor and Reece met on a night out just before the lockdown in 2020 and created a strong bond that grew over the next few years. Reece was attracted to Eleanor's independence and thought she was the most gorgeous girl. It was love at first sight for them both – how romantic!

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Real Weddings: Go For Gold

Go For Gold

These lovebirds worked at the same company but didn't start chatting until Howard moved into the same block of flats as Steph. After a few dates, the pair knew they had found their soul mate and the rest is history! Steph comments, "We managed to spend evenings chatting away, and there was never a lull in conversation. From the beginning, we just got on really well!"

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Real Weddings: Autumnal Dream

Autumnal Dream

Emily and Owen met at the University of Nottingham while studying music and were friends for several years before they started dating – the rest is history!Owen proposed back in 2020 at the Great Orme in Llandudno. He fell into a bush beforehand because he was that excited to propose, and Emily suspected something special might be about to happen. Of course she said 'yes', and together they planned a fun wedding surrounded by loved ones.

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Real Weddings: Love at first like

Love at first like

These lovebirds first met on Instagram when Ollie messaged Beth with a cheesy pick-up line about her eyes. The pair arranged to meet at the cinema, but Ollie confessed to messing up the timings when Beth arrived. They ended up spending two unexpected hours together in McDonald's beforehand. They'd already fallen for each other after plenty of laughter and a spilt coffee. Beth says, "He made me laugh and still manages to nine years later, even when times are hard!"

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Real Weddings: Rustic Romance

Rustic Romance

These lovebirds met at work and despite knowing each other for years, they only started dating after working in the same office. Lou says, "I loved how funny and sweet Col was; he genuinely seemed interested in getting to know me." Col proposed to Lou shortly after her birthday! She says, "We'd had a lovely romantic weekend in York, but Col waited until we had got home to completely shock me by getting down on one knee and popping the question while we sat chilling on the sofa!"

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Real Weddings: In the countryside

In the countryside

Karen and James first met at work a few years before dating. After getting to know each other, they bonded over their love of sports and the outdoors – the rest is history! James proposed just before Christmas in 2019 at Rutland Water. Karen says, "We made our way to one of our favourite spots near the water before James got down on one knee! We had picked the engagement ring together, but the proposal was a complete surprise."

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Real Weddings: Love al fresco

Love al fresco

Tim was playing at a festival in Nottingham when he first met Jade, who went to support her friend Leah's fiancé Sam. The nearlyweds got to work on the clever seating arrangements for their wedding in July 2019 after Tim mentioned he liked Jade and they sat the pair together. The couple completely hit it off and decided to go on a few dates – the rest is history!

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Real Weddings: Winter loving

Winter loving

Amy and Lewis first met at a christening in 2011 and immediately hit it off. The pair were both in attendance as godparents and, despite knowing both parents for several years, they'd never crossed paths before – the rest is history! Lewis popped the question on December 12th 2017, which led the couple to exchange vows precisely four years later surrounded by loved ones.

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Real Weddings: Moments that matter

Moments that matter

Sophie and Will were both living in London when they first met on Tinder and happened to only be a five-minute walk from each other. After they both swiped right and had a brief chat on the app, they decided to meet up and go on a date – the rest is history!

Will proposed to Sophie while on a trip travelling through Belize and Mexico for two weeks. She says, "It was the last day of our holiday when he popped the question on the balcony at our hotel in Tulum. He'd been trying to do it the whole trip but could never find the right moment or pluck up the courage!"

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Real Weddings: Floral fantasy for Molly and Oli

Floral fantasy for Molly and Oli

Molly and Oli first met on Tinder back in 2015. After messaging back and forth, Oli planned dinner at his and the pair cooked a delicious meal together. "We ate food, listened to our favourite music, played a game and chatted until the sun came up – we couldn't believe how quickly time flew by", says Molly.

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Real Weddings: The dream wedding

The dream wedding

Tom and Meg first met through mutual friends and kept bumping into each other – it really was fate. After talking more often, the pair discovered a spark and from there, slowly fell in love. Originally, Tom planned to propose on holiday in Madeira. However, the flight was cancelled last minute due to bad weather and the lovebirds ending up booking Center Parcs last minute. Here Tom plucked up the courage and popped the question in their cabin.

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Real Weddings: Destination love

Destination love

Lauren and Darren's adventure started thousands of feet in the air on a flight to Reykjavík. The pair were both cabin crew at the time and started chatting before Lauren suggested heading for coffee when they landed. She says, "We still laugh about that moment as it's something I've never normally been brave enough to do before – I must have known we were destined to be together."

While on a stroll in The Bahamas back in 2020, Darren proposed on a beautiful beach. Lauren comments, "We've always talked about getting married, but it was a complete surprise on the day. My maid of honour, Keli-Ann, was with us at the time and acted fast to capture the whole thing on camera."

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Real Weddings: Love is all around for Sam and Michaela

Love is all around for Sam and Michaela

Sam and Michaela first met on Plenty of Fish, a popular dating app, and set off for their first date after messaging back and forth. Michaela says, "The conversation flowed effortlessly, and I was instantly attracted to his looks, ambition and selflessness."

The pair realised they'd found the one at a three-day horse show, which Michaela was competing in. After the first two days of the event, she had fallen off twice and felt upset about her performance. But Sam inspired her to stay for the qualifying round, and she ended up winning thanks to his support. From that moment on, the pair knew they'd met their perfect match.

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