Stu & I met 11 May 2013 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We were effectively set up on a blind date by our friends Matthew and Jacqui Hayes (thanks guys!). After spending the weekend getting to know each other while with the Hayes family, Monday was soon upon us. I remember the moment we realized the fun was ending. His texts said he was sad to see the weekend over and he had a good time getting to know me. I responded with, "Well, there's always tomorrow." Typical Stu response, "Oh yea, c'est la vie." I'm a pretty motivated and driven woman. "No. Tomorrow. Pick me up at 8." And that's how it all began!
As you will see from our photos, there has been a lot of travel back and forth from England and the US and even to Hong Kong! Within six months of knowing each other, Stu and I knew there was no one else out there for us. On 30 December 2013, Stu proposed to me in Cork, Ireland in front of the Blarney Castle. It was the best day of my life. Of course I said yes!
We have had many difficulties since our engagement. We waited 10 months for Stu's fiancé visa from the US, only to be told at the very last step that our efforts and time were in vein. Our visa was denied. Devastation does not even describe how we felt. With the help and support of our family and friends we picked ourselves back up and continued on fighting.
I spent a year planning a wedding and looking at lavish venues to now realize how little it mattered. Yes we would have loved to have all our friends and family together to celebrate our vows but at the end of the day, being together is the only thing that truly matters. If we couldn't get married in the US then I would marry him in the UK, in Hong Kong, in Jamaica...anywhere in the world as long as I could finally call him my husband.
So here we are! We have decided to have a beautiful destination wedding in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Not a bad choice if I say so! | 
