Written by Ruth
David and I met back in 2014 in our first year at Wallace High School. We went from classmates, to friends, and eventually, seven years later, dating. That’s what you call a slow burn…
Every year, we took a day trip to Mussenden Temple. Taking the longest possible way round, we’d walk, climb, and adventure our way to the temple just in time for the sky to be painted orange.
If you haven’t been to Mussenden Temple at sunset, you are missing out. Standing there, with the outline of the temple and the cliff’s edge silhouetted against brushstrokes of orange, pink, and purple across the sky, we couldn’t help but think that if God’s creation here on earth can look this good, then heaven must be completely beyond our imagination.
Over the years, it became “our place”, where we felt at home, connected, and in awe of the beauty around us.
Fast forward to 2024, when I was confined to a wheelchair, and a trip to Mussenden seemed impossible… but not to David. He pushed me all the way from Bishop’s Gate, right up the hill to the temple, carrying me when the terrain was too much for the chair (I don’t think he knew he’d signed up for manual labour when he met me.)
After months of being bedbound, the sea breeze on my face, the cliffside view of the beach, and the sunlight dancing across the waves felt overwhelmingly beautiful… but nothing compared to the moment I turned to see David down on one knee.
Marrying my best friend? Now that was the easiest “yes” of my life.
And now here we are, planning our wedding and our future together. We’re so grateful to have you all supporting us, and we can’t wait to celebrate our love with you.
Ruth, we met in school back in 2014 and became close when we did MIA together in 4th year, spending most of the time talking and laughing (not much learning), but usually laughing at you struggling to use a computer most of the time
You’re the kindest and funniest person I know and somehow, you’ve put up with me for all this time. From the very start of our relationship, we were thrown in at the deep end with all the tricky things you don’t want to deal with that early on, but we got each other through, and we always have each other’s backs with whatever we are going through, I will even attempt to help with art when needed… No matter what we are doing it always ends up being exciting even is that is doing nothing. As a wise bear said ‘Sometimes doing nothing often leads to the best kind of something’
I can’t wait for everything that’s ahead of us: the wedding, the adventures, and all the normal days in between (is there ever normal with us?). Whatever comes our way, I know we’ll face it together, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
Written by David
David, my first memory of you was on the first day of secondary school. I was sitting there, staring blankly at my school iPad (utterly lost) when you came over and quietly helped me figure it out. I didn’t even have to ask, you just saw I needed help and stepped in. That’s you, through and through.
The road hasn’t been easy for us. From the very beginning, we’ve faced our fair share of trials together. In our first year of dating, I was bedbound for half of it. Most people would have taken that as their chance to leg it, but you stayed. Not only did you stay, you took care of me. Even on the days I couldn’t speak, you sat on the floor beside my bed, holding my hand. You gave me the strength to keep going.I knew then at eighteen that I’d found my future husband. And in the years we’ve been together since then you have continued to shower me with love, care and kindness.
You are the first person I want to call when anything happens, the one I want to share my joys with, and the one I turn to in my sorrows.
I thank God every day for putting you in my life, because I cannot imagine it without you, and just as you’ve always quietly taken care of me, I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life taking care of you. You are, and will always be, my best friend, and I can’t wait for the day I get to call you my husband.
Written by Ruth