Our favourite city is home to many great romances. Here are some …
FOR some the recipe of love is a cherry Coke and a dark chocolate Bounty, for others it’s the Scottish and Australian charm that first drew them to their partner.
A proposal at the Principality
For two avid rugby fans, the Principality Stadium was the perfect place for Kate Harwood and Kyle Muir to get engaged.
Kyle, 26, from Glasgow proposed to Kate, 26, from Swansea at the Wales v Scotland Six Nations game in February 2018.
Unbeknown to Kate, all her friends and family were aware of what Kyle was planning.
“There was a real buzz in the air and as the Welsh National Anthem finished, I turned around and saw Kyle down on one knee,” said Kate.
“Honestly, I was completely in shock and could not believe what I was seeing. All of our friends started to cheer and the rest of the crowd around us.”
When Kate went on a girls’ holiday to Spain in 2013, she didn’t know she was about to meet her future fiancé.
“It was only supposed to be a holiday romance, but eight years later, here we are, planning our wedding,” she said.
The couple were in a long-distance relationship for four years before travelling the world together for 18 months.
While on their travels the couple visited Australia, Thailand and Malaysia before the pandemic forced the couple to return to the UK.
“We are both now living and working in Cardiff, busy planning our wedding, which will take place in 2022,” said Kate.
Childhood sweethearts reunite 30 years later
DANIELLE and Peter first saw each other at nursery, but it wasn’t until over 30 years after that meet-cute that they would fall in love.
“I do believe in fate and I do believe everything happens for a reason, we’ve both been through the mill a little in the past but neither of us would change it,” said Danielle.
In April 2020, Peter Hale, 34, got in touch with Danielle Winstone, 35, through Facebook after she posted a status to say she was shielding.
Peter offered to help Danielle with shopping as he also lived in Pentyrch. Danielle’s only requests were a cherry Coke and a dark chocolate Bounty.
Their friendship blossomed as Peter dropped off essentials and had socially distanced chats on Danielle’s doorstep.
In true 2020 style, their first date was a socially distanced Indian takeaway in the garden.
As restrictions eased in August, the couple were able to enjoy their new romantic relationship by going on dates and spending quality time together.
Peter isolated for two weeks in order to join Danielle in her support bubble.
“Our plan for the future is just to take each day as it comes, [we’re] enjoying each other’s company,” said Danielle.
30 years and counting
KNOWN by friends for their “wacky” parties, Jamie and Mike’s civil partnership was anything but low-key.
Taking place in the Cinderella Room of the London Palladium, Mike Phillips and Jamie Wilcox’s ceremony included drag queens, cocktails, a variety of musical anthems and a performance by London’s Gay Men’s Chorus.
“I don’t think they knew what was about to hit them when we turned up with our plans,” said Mike.
“It had to be at a theatre because of our performing background,” said Jamie.
Jamie, 59, originally from Melbourne, Australia, is a former dancer and Mike, 53, trained as an actor at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
The London Palladium has a soft spot in Mike’s heart.
Mike’s Aunt Kate, one of the few family members to remain in his life after he came out as gay, always told the story of him as a young boy dancing around her living room saying he wanted to perform at the Palladium when he was older.
They met for first time in a pub on a Sunday afternoon in Cardiff.
“It was definitely love at first sight for him,” joked Mike.
Now living together in London, Mike and Jamie have fond memories of their time together in Cardiff.
“Cardiff is very special to us. It’s the birthplace of our relationship,” said Jamie.
“Cardiff is where it all started and we’re still bickering 30 years on,” Mike added.
Same sex marriage was legalised in England and Wales in 2014.
In 2016, Mike and Jamie got married and celebrated in a gin palace on Fleet Street.
