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Husband and wife with dementia reunite after 30 years apart

<p>A former husband and wife with dementia have been reunited after 30 years apart when they moved into the same care home. </p> <p>Nancy, 86, and Stan, 91, were first married in 1957 in Edinburgh, despite their parents "forbidding" their romance and not approving of their union. </p> <p>The couple went on to have three children and lived happily, until Nancy was nearly killed by a brain haemorrhage when she was in her mid-50s. </p> <p>Nancy had to undergo life-altering surgery and a lengthy recovery time, which ultimately led to the downfall of her relationship with Stan and they filed for divorce. </p> <p>After their split, Stan met another woman when he was in his 70s, while Nancy never had another romance. </p> <p>When Nancy and Stan entered their 80s, they both began to show signs of dementia and could no longer care for themselves. </p> <p>Around Christmas time last year, their daughter Karen made the decision to put her father Stan, who suffered a fall while being cared for in Scotland, in the same home as Nancy, which is where she captured the heartwarming footage of them being reunited.</p> <p>In the clip, Nancy tells Stan he is "not bad looking for his age", while her ex-husband replies, "I recognise your face but I couldn't place who it was".</p> <p>The couple then agree to go on a date together and have a cup of tea, before having a kiss for "old time's sake."</p> <p style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; caret-color: #323338; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; outline: currentcolor !important;">The video was posted to TikTok by Karen's daughter Sarah-Ashleigh, who spoke to the <em><a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13196325/Heartwarming-moment-former-husband-wife-dementia-reunited-care-home-30-years-apart.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a></em> about the family's decision to put both Nancy and Stan in the same care home. </p> <div class="embed" style="font-size: 16px; box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: currentcolor !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; width: 600px; max-width: 100%; outline: currentcolor !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7341697620181519648&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40sarahashleighflorals%2Fvideo%2F7341697620181519648&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-useast2a.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast2a-p-0037-euttp%2F4189e3105ed04778a3de6a83a40077b6_1709372224%3Fx-expires%3D1712448000%26x-signature%3DcpIHZABQ%252FDnAqGU7bJYeryVnJlU%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>"We were so worried how this would go. It's so good to see them be friends again," she said.</p> <p>"Dementia is a horrible disease, but it's moments like this which we really just hold on to."</p> <p>"Granny struggles a bit more in general and gets anxious and confused but I think having someone there who she knows has done wonders for her."</p> <p>"She's always looking for him (even when he's right next to her) and they sit together a lot and bicker like the married couple they used to be."</p> <p>"Love might not be the same kind of love forever, it is a shape shifter, but it never leaves."</p> <p>"Their marriage didn't last forever but just seeing them have a friendship again just shows that love never dies."</p> <p><em>Image credits: TikTok</em></p>

Caring

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Dying husband and wife spend their final days holding hands

<p>A married couple have spent their final days holding hands in hospital, after their beds were pushed next to each other so they could be side-by-side as they both passed away. </p> <p>The couple from Tennessee, Tommy and Virginia Stevens, both 91, were both admitted to the Vanderbilt hospital for unrelated medical issues. </p> <p>Tommy, who was suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, had been struck down with aspiration pneumonia and sepsis, and was transferred to the hospital's palliative care unit. </p> <p>The same morning, Virginia suffered a fall as she sustained six broken ribs, a spinal fracture, and a hip injury, and was admitted to the hospital's trauma unit. </p> <p>As Tommy and Virginia's family were struggling to split time between the two wards, hospital staff were able to pull strings for the longtime lovebirds to be roomed side-by-side.</p> <p>Virginia was moved into a room near Tommy’s in the Palliative Care Unit, and her hospital bed was scooted against his so she could comfort him as his health continued to get worse, the hospital said.</p> <p>“He was awake when she came in,” their daughter Karen Kreager said. </p> <p>“His eyes were open. He wasn’t communicating a lot — just in small whispers. But he knew that she was there and that she was going to be right beside him. They haven’t stopped holding hands the whole time. She won’t let go of him.” </p> <p>“It reminds me of why we do this work,” Mohana Karlekar, MD, medical director of VUMC’s adult Palliative Care Program told local news station <em><a href="https://www.wsmv.com/2023/09/19/she-wont-let-go-him-vanderbilt-helps-hospitalized-wife-comfort-dying-husband/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WSMV</a></em>. </p> <p>“We take care of people — husbands, wives, mothers, fathers — not patients. We brought this family together during one of their most difficult times with little effort on our part. It involved a call, seeing an extra patient that day and some conversations.”</p> <p>“From the time we brought Mrs. Stevens over, she held her husband’s hand and fussed in a very loving way with him,” Karlekar said. </p> <p>“She was able to tell me Monday that she was at peace with what was going on, and she wanted to be there until the end.”</p> <p>Tommy died on September 8th, just a day before the couple’s 69th anniversary, and Virginia died a few days later on September 17th.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Vanderbilt University Medical Center and The Stevens Family</em></p>

Caring

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Marvel star ties the knot in super secret ceremony

<p>Marvel movie star Chris Evans has tied the knot with his girlfriend Alba Baptista in an intimate ceremony at their home in the state of Massachusetts. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://pagesix.com/2023/09/10/chris-evans-marries-alba-baptista/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Page Six</em></a>, the Hollywood A-lister and Baptista, a Portuguese actress, got married on Saturday, with only a handful of their closest friends and family attending the nuptials. </p> <p>An insider told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/hook-ups-break-ups/chris-evans-marries-alba-baptista-in-intimate-athome-wedding/news-story/872c843aa221bc8173f0a82feb7c6477" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a> that the nuptials were “locked down tight,” as guests signed NDAs and phones were forfeited for the "beautiful" ceremony. </p> <p>The guest list also included some of the actor’s Marvel co-stars, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner.</p> <p>The <em>Captain America</em> actor and Baptista first sparked rumours of a romance in November 2022, when a source told <em><a href="https://people.com/movies/chris-evans-dating-alba-baptista-source-exclusive/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em> that the duo had been dating for “over a year.”</p> <p>“They are in love, and Chris has never been happier,” the insider said, already calling their relationship “serious” at the time. </p> <p>“His family and friends all adore her.”<iframe id="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.nent/entertainment/celebritylife/hookupsbreakups_5" tabindex="0" title="3rd party ad content" role="region" name="google_ads_iframe_/5129/ndm.nent/entertainment/celebritylife/hookupsbreakups_5" width="4" height="4" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Advertisement" data-load-complete="true" data-google-container-id="6" data-integralas-id-69c76c0a-f5d2-9885-70ea-25cce3e0243a=""></iframe><iframe width="1" height="1" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p> <p>Just hours after the news broke, the couple was spotted holding hands during a stroll in Central Park.</p> <p>While little is known about the low-key couple’s relationship, Evans has proudly been flaunting his affection for Baptista online.</p> <p>The <em>Knives Out</em> star was spotted leaving a flirty comment on Baptista’s Instagram post around the same time that news broke of their relationship.</p> <p>Then, in February, the couple went Instagram-official as Evans began posting a series of PDA-filled pics to his Instagram Story in honour of Valentine’s Day.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Miley Cyrus' mum marries Aussie Prison Break actor

<p>Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell and Tish Cyrus have tied the knot in an intimate Malibu wedding.</p> <p>The wedding was held by a pool in the backyard of a Malibu mansion with floral decorations and a few stars in attendance, including Tish's pop star daughter Miley Cyrus, cricket star David Warner and his wife Candice Warner. </p> <p>Miley, was reported to be the Maid of Honour and her siblings Trace, 34, and Brandi, 36, were also reportedly at the wedding. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwLtHGwBPHK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwLtHGwBPHK/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Mrs Candice Warner (@candywarner1)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"Oh what a night!!! Congratulations @dominicpurcell &amp; @tishcyrus on the most magical wedding. We love you," Candice wrote, with a series of images from the wedding. </p> <p>In a few <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12425597/Miley-Cyrus-Maid-Honor-Singer-looks-mom-Tish-marries-Prison-Break-star-Dominic-Purcell-Malibu-one-year-whirlwind-romance-shock-divorce-Billy-Ray-Cyrus.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">aerial photos</a> from the wedding, Tish can be spotted donning a simple strapless A-line wedding dress and veil. Her two daughters and a few other bridesmaids matched the look with a light grey dress and white bouquet. </p> <p>The wedding comes just four months after Tish and Dominic got engaged. </p> <p>This is Tish's third marriage and Dominic's second marriage.</p> <p>Tish was previously married to Baxter Neal Helson from 1986 - 1989, who she shares  children Brandi and Trace with.</p> <p>From 1993 - 2021 she was married to singer Billy Ray Cyrus and shares Miley, Braison, and Noah with him. </p> <p>Dominic was previously married to Rebecca Williamson, who he shares four children with.</p> <p>The couple announced their engagement to Instagram back in May, with the caption:  "A thousand times... YES @dominicpurcell."</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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"We love each other": Mayor marries reptile in stunning ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Love comes when you least expect it and for one mayor in the small town of San Pedro Huamelula, Mexico, his match caiman he never looked back.</p> <p dir="ltr">Victor Hugo Sosa, the mayor of the town has said “I do” to his “princess girl”, a caiman named Alicia Adriana, and his wedding speech is one for the books.</p> <p dir="ltr">'I accept responsibility because we love each other. That is what is important. You can't have a marriage without love... I yield to marriage with the princess girl,' he vowed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Onlookers clapped and danced in celebration as the mayor kissed and embraced his new bride who was dressed in a white gown and veil.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ceremony is part of a 230-year tradition which symbolises the joining of humans with the divine, as she is thought to be a deity representing mother earth.</p> <p dir="ltr">It also commemorates the day when two Indigenous groups came to peace- with the marriage between a Chontal king, now represented by the mayor, and a princess girl of the Huave Indigenous group, now represented by the female alligator.</p> <p dir="ltr">The age-old ritual involves the reptile being taken house to house before the wedding so that residents can take their turn dancing with it.</p> <p dir="ltr">She is later on changed into her wedding dress, which Olivia Perez was in charge of during this ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">"For us, the crocodile is important because she is the princess who comes to bring us water, a good harvest, rains, so that God the Almighty Father sends us food, fish, corn, the harvest," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">After the wedding, the mayor dances with his bride to traditional music.</p> <p dir="ltr">Local fishermen would also take part in the ritual and toss their nets on the ground in hopes that their marriage would bring “'good fishing, so that there is prosperity, equilibrium and ways to live in peace.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty, Oaxaca Informa10 Twitter</em></p>

Relationships

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Long-married couples said not to know each other as well as newlyweds

<p>You would think decades of marriage together would give older couples plenty of time to get to know each other but an interesting new study suggests otherwise, finding that couples who have been together for decades are worse at predicting what their partner likes than newlyweds.</p> <p>The study, published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, tested young couples, aged from 19 to 32, who had been together for an average of two years and older couples, aged from 62 to 78, who had been together for at least 40 years. Each of the 116 participants was presented with a series of descriptions (of foods, movies, house designs and so on) and asked to rate his or her preference and predict how their partner would rate the item. They were also asked to estimate how many of their predictions were correct.</p> <p>And well, overall, we’re not great at knowing what our significant other likes, even though we think we are. Young couples got 42 per cent of their predictions right and older couples only predicted 36 per cent of their partners’ preferences, when both couple groups overconfidently estimated they would get 62 per cent of answers right.</p> <p>“This is surprising because, compared to younger couples, older couples had much more time and opportunities to learn about each other's preferences over the course of their relationship,” the team of psychologist wrote.</p> <p>They suggested that younger couples may be more motivated to understand their partners during the early stages of a relationship.</p> <p>“Another reason could be that older couples pay less attention to each other, because they view their relationship as already firmly committed or because they think they already know their partner well,” said one of the researchers, Dr Benjamin Scheibehenne of the University of Basel.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Relationships

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Aussie Olympic medallist marries billionaire F1 heiress

<p dir="ltr">Australian Olympic medallist Scotty James has tied the knot with Chloe Stroll in a lavish Italian wedding over the weekend.</p> <p dir="ltr">James, a four-time Olympian and two-time medallist, was introduced to Chloe, daughter of Formula One billionaire Lawrence Stroll, by her brother Lance who set them up in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">The wedding came nearly 18 months after Scotty proposed, and the pair took to Instagram to share pictures of the happy occasion.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chloe shared a series of photos with a simple infinity emoji, while Scotty shared behind the scenes clips from a boat ride around Venice.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Hi everyone. This is our first video as husband and wife - well, on my phone anyway,” he proudly said as he looked lovingly at his wife.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And as you can see behind us, the sun has risen. We’re on a boat back to the hotel - and we got married yesterday!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The beautiful bride donned an off-the-shoulder gown with a stunning floral lace detail and a matching flowing veil.</p> <p dir="ltr">The groom looked dapper in a black suit with a bow tie and beautiful white pocket rose.</p> <p dir="ltr">The wedding weekend included a stay at the Gritti Palace in Venice.</p> <p dir="ltr">Plenty of stars were in attendance including Scotty’s groomsman and best mate, F1 racer Daniel Ricciardo and his girlfriend Heidi Berger, also an F1 heiress.</p> <p dir="ltr">Scotty’s brother-in-law and <em>Sunrise</em> weather presenter, Sam Mac, was also in attendance after taking leave from the show.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So happy for you mate. A true honour to share this special time with you and Chloe ... wow wow wow,” he wrote on Instagram.</p> <p dir="ltr">Rebecca, Sam’s partner, also commented: “I officially have another sister,” to which Chloe replied: “Love you sis!!!”</p> <p dir="ltr">Some other guest stars who reportedly attended the wedding included: Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff and wife Susie, Sarah Ferguson, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Why being married cuts your risk of skin cancer

<p>A new study has found that married couples are less likely to die of skin cancer because they spot warning signs earlier than singles.</p> <p>The study, which observed 50,000 American skin cancer patients, found that 45.7 per cent of those who were married, had stage 1 tumours – which have a 98 per cent survival rate.</p> <p>The chance of catching skin cancer early dropped 32 per cent for singles, 38 per cent for divorcees and 70 per cent for widowers.</p> <p>The researchers from the University of Pennsylvania said they were stunned by the striking difference in diagnoses.</p> <p>The researchers believe these findings should help dermatologists adjust their advice to patients based on their relationship status, suggesting screening at an earlier age for single patients and encouraging home-screen training for those in relationships.</p> <p>Victims of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are expected to increase by seven per cent by 2035.</p> <p>For those diagnosed with stage 1 disease, the five-year survival is reportedly 98 per cent. The five-year survival drops to 62 per cent for those diagnosed with stage 3 disease</p> <p>The study, published in the<em> Journal of the American Heart Association</em>, aimed to investigate how lifestyle and relationships could impact patients’ early detection chances.</p> <p>“Spouses likely facilitate early detection of melanomas by assisting in identification of pigmented lesions that may have otherwise gone unnoticed,” said corresponding author Dr Cimarron Sharon, a dermatologist at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.</p> <p>“They may also provide support and encouragement to see a physician for evaluation.</p> <p>“Thus, married patients are likely to receive a better prognosis because of earlier surgical management.”</p> <p>The study also found that married patients were more likely than single, divorced or widowed patients to have a sentinel lymph node biopsy.</p> <p>SLNB is linked to survival as the sentinel lymph node is closest to a tumour and is the first place it would spread.</p> <p>Dr Sharon said this could be “associated with the spouse's role in supporting the patient and engaging in further discussion”. A partner also reduces the difficulty in travelling to and from a hospital and finding a carer post-surgery.</p> <p>This study is the largest of its kind to find the influence of marriage on the detection of melanoma.</p> <p>Dr Sharon said, “These findings support increased consideration of spousal training for partner skin examination and perhaps more frequent screening for unmarried patients.</p> <p>“Marital status should be considered when counselling patients for melanoma procedures and when recommending screening and follow-up to optimize patient care.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Body

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Princess Diana’s niece marries longtime sweetheart

<p>In a stunning mountain-top ceremony, Princess Diana’s niece Lady Amelia Spencer has married her longtime love, Greg Mallett. </p> <p>The couple, who have been dating since they were teenagers and engaged since 2020, teased that the big day was coming with a post to social media captioned “Not long now”. And while they have yet to share any pictures from their big day, Earl Charles Spencer’s daughter opened up to <em>HELLO! </em>about what it meant to tie the knot in a place so dear to their hearts. </p> <p>"It means so much to get married here," she said of their Cape Town location. "Growing up here together for the last 14 years, all of mine and Greg’s happiest times as a couple are here. It’s even more special now."</p> <p>“I’ve been dreaming of watching Amelia walk down the aisle for 14 years,” Greg added. </p> <p>The pair met - and got engaged - in South Africa, and it was in 2021 that Amelia and Greg decided to relocate to the United Kingdom. </p> <p>Amelia has previously stated to <em>HELLO! </em>that the proposal marked the “most romantic” day of her life. And as Greg explained, "I had one big pink box, inside which I put in eight smaller boxes, decreasing in size.</p> <p>"In each box was a photograph of a 'first time'. The final box contained a note instead of a picture, that said: 'But most importantly, I know that you will remember tonight as the night that I proposed.' As Amelia was reading the note, I dropped to one knee with the ring."</p> <p>Amelia’s sisters - twin Eliza and big sister Kitty - were in attendance at the wedding, as well as her younger brother, Samuel. </p> <p>However, according to reports, Amelia’s father - Princess Diana’s brother - was not there. This didn’t come as a huge surprise to some, as he’d also missed Lady Kitty’s wedding - a move that has reportedly created a divide between the Earl and some of his children. </p> <p>As a source told <em>The Daily Mail</em>, “Kitty and Charles were very close when she was growing up, but their relationship has cooled and been more distant since his marriage to his third wife Karen in 2011.”</p> <p>That same source went on to explain that Charles had suffered an injury and that that was likely “the reason for him not travelling”, but it has yet to be revealed what his reasons were for missing out on Amelia’s ceremony as well. </p> <p>It also appears that neither William nor Harry celebrated alongside their cousin on her happy day. </p> <p>Still, fans and friends of the couple were more than happy to share their joy, writing their congratulations on Amelia’s teasing post.</p> <p>“Congratulations [to] you two on your nuptials. You are a beautiful couple,” wrote one. </p> <p>“Wow what a beautiful, happy, healthy, stunning couple,” declared another. “I wish you both all the happiness in the world.”</p> <p>While one announced for all of them, “Simply can’t wait.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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"I MARRIED my best friend!": Aussie superstar's secret wedding

<p>Tones and I singer Toni Watson has announced her marriage to footballer fiancé Jimmy Bedford and has shared an inside look into her secret Bali wedding.</p> <p>On Wednesday, the star took to Instagram to share a series of photos from her big day with the caption: “Well we weren’t planning on spreading the news until after the single dropped but I MARRIED my best friend!”</p> <p>In one photo, Watson and Bedford were seen exchanging their vows under a gazebo in a romantic outdoor ceremony.</p> <p>In another photo, the couple can be seen smiling from ear to ear with a stunning view of the ocean in the background. Watson donned a long white silk dress and held a beautiful white bouquet to match.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFHjXoBBXG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CqFHjXoBBXG/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by TONES AND I (@tonesandi)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Watson’s bridesmaids can be seen wearing flattering orange dresses and holding up their glasses to cheer for the newlyweds.</p> <p>The <em>Dance Monkey</em> singer also shared a few photos from her reception, and she appeared to have had an outfit change to something that matched her usual style.</p> <p>Many of her friends and other stars have commented their well wishes to the couple.</p> <p>“How goods this, congrats you two 👌,” wrote Australian Cricketer David Warner.</p> <p>“CONGRATULATIONS ANGELS ❤️,” wrote Sophie Monk.</p> <p>“Such a fun weekend, what a special moment ❤️❤️” commented a friend.</p> <p>“I’m so so so happy for you guys!!” commented another.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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"Devotion, honesty, caring": Goldie Hawn reveals why she and Kurt never married

<p>Goldie Hawn has honoured Kurt Russell on his 72nd birthday after they revealed why they never married.</p> <p>Hawn shared a photo on Instagram of her partner of 40 years.</p> <p>“Happy birthday to the wacky man in my life! I love you baby ❤️, ” she said.</p> <p>Hawn’s son, Oliver Hudson, took to the comments and wrote, “Love this pic!!! Hahahah … Sums up your entire 40 years of togetherness.”</p> <p>The actress’ daughter Kate Hudson also shared an Instagram post dedicated to Russell, her unofficial stepdad.</p> <p>She posted a sweet video of her daughter Rani helping Russell blow out his birthday candle.</p> <p>“Always a double fun day in our family! St Patrick’s day and Pa’s birthday! Love this man so much! How about some birthday love for Kurt! Happy Birthday Pa,” she captioned the video.</p> <p>The birthday wishes come after Russell and Hawn’s recent interview with Variety where one of Hollywood’s longest-standing relationships revealed they were “constantly” asked why they were never married.</p> <p>“We constantly got asked, ‘When are you going to get married? Why aren’t you married?’” Russell told the outlet, referring to the early years of their relationship back in the 80s.</p> <p>“And we were like, ‘Why does anybody care about that?’” he added. “We’d asked our kids if they cared about it. They didn’t. We didn’t.”</p> <p>The pair first met when they appeared in the 1966 comedy, <em>The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band</em>. She was 21 and Russell was 16 at the time. Hawn recalled Russell as being “adorable” but also “much too young” for her to date.</p> <p>The couple got together in 1983 and recently celebrated four decades of partnership on Valentine’s Day 2023.</p> <p>It seems as though the couple’s philosophy on long-standing relationships is to simply not get married.</p> <p>“We have done just perfectly without marrying. I already feel devoted and isn’t that what marriage is supposed to do? So as long as my emotional state is in a state of devotion, honesty, caring, and loving, then we’re fine,” Hawn said in an interview with <em>Woman’s Day</em> in 2007.</p> <p>“We have raised our children brilliantly; they are beautiful people. We did a great job there, and we didn’t have to get married to do that. I like waking up every day and seeing that he is there and knowing that I have a choice,” she shared. “There is really no reason to marry.”</p> <p><em>Image credit: Instagram/Getty</em></p>

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Best relationship advice from married couples

<p dir="ltr"><strong>Be together for the right reasons</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Select a partner that you’re compatible with and truly want to be with, don’t get married for the below reasons!</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Pressure from friends and family</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Feeling lonely or self-conscious that you’re single</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Select a partner just for image or because it looks good on paper</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">“Don’t ever be with someone because someone else pressured you to. I got married the first time because I was raised Catholic and that’s what you were supposed to do.” - Greg</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Realistic expectations </strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don’t expect your partner to do everything for you</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Don’t select a partner based purely on looks or money</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Make sure you’re selecting a partner that you would get on with as friends as well as a romantic relationship </p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">“There will be days, or weeks, or maybe even longer, when you aren’t all mushy-gushy in-love. You’re even going to wake up some morning and think, “Ugh, you’re still here….” That’s normal! And more importantly, sticking it out is totally worth it, because . . . in a day, or a week, or maybe even longer, you’ll look at that person and a giant wave of love will inundate you, and you’ll love them so much you think your heart can’t possibly hold it all and is going to burst. Because a love that’s alive is also constantly evolving.” - Paula</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Talk openly and be honest with each other</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">If something is bothering you tell your partner and communicate clearly</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Be vulnerable with your partner, don’t put up a ball</p> </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> <p dir="ltr" role="presentation">Respect your partner and their emotions</p> </li> </ul> <p dir="ltr">“There can be no secrets. Secrets divide you. Always.” - Tracey </p> <p> </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

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Woman marries ex-boyfriend’s dad

<p dir="ltr">A woman who married her ex-boyfriend’s father in which there is a 24-year age gap has spoken out about how the exciting relationship came to be. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sydney Dean, 27, from Ohio was only in year 6 when she met her childhood boyfriend’s dad, Paul.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, the relationship came to an end but Sydney and Paul’s son remained friends until he got another girlfriend in high school. </p> <p dir="ltr">Sydney felt like a third wheel and ended up speaking to Paul who she never “expected to fall in love with”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair began dating when Sydney turned 16, the legal age of consent in the state of Ohio before Paul proposed in 2016. </p> <p dir="ltr">It was difficult for the loved up couple to explain to family and friends that their relationship was real.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My mum already knew who Paul was and, from the few times they have talked, they got along just fine,” Sydney told Jam Press.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But when I first told my mum that we were together, she was not happy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The age gap really got to her and it stayed that way for about a year [until] eventually she came around.” </p> <p dir="ltr">Sydney’s parents eventually grew to love Paul, with her mother visiting “all the time”. </p> <p dir="ltr">But it was rough on Paul’s youngest son who already “knew” Sydney who took the news the hardest.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He didn’t agree with the relationship for a couple of years,” Sydney said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But now that we are married, he supports us being together.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He comes over with his girlfriend and their three children every other weekend just to hang out.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sydney is hoping that her love story removes the stigma toward relationships with big age gaps. </p> <p dir="ltr">She said that Paul “is the best husband” and he treats her well. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: 7News/Jam Press</em></p>

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"Let's do it!" How this couple came to be married mid-flight

<p>A couple from the US have eloped onboard a Southwest flight, after their elopement in Vegas fell through. </p> <p>The couple from Oklahoma, Pam Patterson and Jeremy Salda, were flying from Dallas to Las Vegas to get married in a chapel on the Vegas strip. </p> <p>However, when their flight was cancelled, their elopement was thrown into disarray. </p> <p>While thinking of a plan B, the couple got talking with Chris Kilgora, who was also destined to be on their cancelled flight. </p> <p>When the couple told Chris of their situation, he told them that he was an ordained minister and would be happy to marry them himself.</p> <p>The three travellers booked flights on the next plane from Dallas to Las Vegas, and made it onto their Southwest flight with just minutes to spare. </p> <p>As the couple were dressed in their wedding attire, the captain began talking with Pam and Jeremy at the gate and joked about them getting married on the plane. </p> <p>Astonishingly, they said, "Let's do it!"</p> <p>The Southwest cabin crew decorated the plane with anything they could find, while air hostess Julie stepped in as Pam's maid of honour. </p> <p>The couple were married 37,000 feet in the air by the ordained minister in a ceremony none of the staff, or other travellers, are likely to ever forget. </p> <p>One traveller handed around a notepad for everyone to write their names and seat numbers as a makeshift guest book, while a professional photographer who was onboard immortalised the ceremony with offical wedding snaps. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Pam and Jeremy were traveling on one of our competitors to elope in Vegas when their final leg from DFW to LAS was canceled. Little did they know, their luck was about to turn. 🧵 <a href="https://t.co/D1aU9452An">pic.twitter.com/D1aU9452An</a></p> <p>— Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) <a href="https://twitter.com/SouthwestAir/status/1520478095521857537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>The Southwest Airlines official Twitter page shared a series of tweets detailing Pam and Jeremy's extraordinary wedding story, which quickly went viral. </p> <p>"Southwest has been the love airline for nearly 51 years," Southwest wrote in a statement to CNN. "We always enjoy an opportunity to celebrate our customers in special ways."</p> <p>Pam and Jeremy plan to follow hold a more traditional ceremony in Mexico where they can celebrate with family and friends.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

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Blackout bungle sees sisters marry the wrong grooms

<p>Two sisters have accidentally married the wrong grooms during their joint wedding, as a power cut caused a confusing blackout. </p> <p>The ceremony was happening in the village of Aslana in Madhya Pradesh state, India, when the unfortunate blackout wreaked havoc with the proceedings.</p> <p>During the confusion, the priest continued to read out the marriage rites, but accidentally confused the couples. </p> <p>The brides’ father Ramesh Lal suggested the priest may have been confused since the two women were both in red dresses with veils over their faces.</p> <p>When the mistake was realised, it was later rectified. </p> <p>Blackouts and power cuts have been more common in India, as unusually high temperatures continue to tear through the country. </p> <p>These surging temperatures have seen a surge in demand for energy, with many companies resorting to intermittent power cuts in order to cope with the demand. </p> <p>More than a billion people across south Asia are facing a record-breaking heat wave which leaves them "gasping in whatever shade they find".</p> <p>Temperatures in northern India<a id="mol-de96b2e2-d097-11ec-861e-fba9b27a3e26" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/pakistan/index.html"> </a>have spiked to 47C as neighbouring Pakistan suffered its hottest March for 61 years.</p> <p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in April, "Temperatures are rising rapidly in the country, and rising much earlier than usual."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Nurse who lost both legs to Russian landmine gets married in hospital

<p>The first dance is a big moment for any bride and groom, but it was even more special for Oksana and Victor.</p> <p>Oksana lost both her legs on a Russian landmine in March, in their home town of Lysychansk, located in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine region of Luhansk.</p> <p>The explosion didn't injure Victor, although they were together at the time, but the bride lost both of her legs as well as four fingers on her left hand.</p> <p>Oksana underwent four surgeries and was later evacuated to Dnipro to recover and prepare for prosthetics, and eventually to Lviv, in the west near the Polish border.</p> <p>As she waited for the next part of the healing process, the couple, who have two children together, took the opportunity to wed in a Lviv hospital last week.</p> <p>“Life should not be postponed until later, decided Oksana and Victor, who in six years together never found time for marriage," Lviv Medical Association said, sharing video of the couple's special moment.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">❤️🇺🇦 Very special lovestory.<br />A nurse from Lysychansk, who has lost both legs on a russian mine, got married in Lviv. On March 27, Victor and Oksana were coming back home, when a russian mine exploded. The man was not injured, but Oksana's both legs were torn off by the explosion. <a href="https://t.co/X1AQNwKwyu">pic.twitter.com/X1AQNwKwyu</a></p> <p>— Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine - Ukrainian Parliament (@ua_parliament) <a href="https://twitter.com/ua_parliament/status/1521194382682202113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p>The footage was also shared by Ukraine's Parliament, which wished the couple well in their new life together. The sweet dance shows the groom carrying his new wife in his arms as she buries her head in her husband's neck.</p> <p>The couple are said to have wed at a local registry office before the hospital reception took place. Oksana is set to travel to Germany for further treatment.</p> <p><em>Image: Twitter </em></p>

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'My best man declared his love at my wedding - now we're married'

<p>The groom's best man - at his wedding - allegedly 'stole' the bride from the groom.</p> <p>Desiree White, aged 32, divorced her husband to marry her lifelong friend, who happened to be the best man at their wedding, named Bryant. He confessed his undying love for her while toasting her nuptials to his former best-friend.</p> <p>“He said, ‘I remember the first moment I saw Desiree, I loved her. I fell in love with her. I knew she had to be mine. I thought she was the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life,’” Desiree, from Illinois, said of Bryant’s best man’s speech during her 2010 ceremony.</p> <p>“He said, ‘She’s the best person I’ve ever met. I’ve never met anyone like her. Then I found out she already had a boyfriend and I thought I needed to find out a way to get her, but then I met [White’s ex-husband] and we became friends,’” she recalled.</p> <p>The identity of Desiree’s former spouse is unknown, but she and her ex sat side-by-side, slack-jawed, as Bryant poured out his heart in front of them and their 200 wedding guests.</p> <p>“[Bryant] then just said, ‘Love you both — congratulations.’ It ended there,” she added, noting that her ears “turned red” with embarrassment after his admission.</p> <p>After, a wave of awkwardness then overcame the room, she remembered, saying, “Everyone was kind of laughing — and then it got quiet.”</p> <p>And she was admittedly “confused” by Bryant’s confession, most notably due to the staunchly platonic nature of their friendship.</p> <p>“Bryant and I met each other in class at high school,” she said.</p> <p>“I had a boyfriend at the time and, because of that, I really wasn’t going to talk to other people.”</p> <p>After showing him a picture of her then-boyfriend, Bryant immediately recognised the kid as someone who shared the same lunch period as him. The three formed a tight buddies bond shortly thereafter.</p> <p>“Bryant and my ex-husband became best friends and, because they were guys, they did a lot together. They did everything together,” Desiree said, insisting she did not have any romantic feelings for her now-husband during their formative years.</p> <p>“I set Bryant up [on dates with other women] so many times,” she said.</p> <p>“I’ve been on double dates with him and I always tell people I wouldn’t have ever dated the person he was then.</p> <p>“He had a lot of growing up to do. I didn’t really look at him in that way.”</p> <p>Desiree claims to have vividly remembered the look of affection that Bryant wore when he saw her adorned in her dress on the morning of her wedding.</p> <p>“On the wedding day, I walked into the living room, right when I was done getting ready with my wedding dress on and my hair done. Bryant came into my parents’ house and froze and stared at me,” she recounted.</p> <p>“I said, ‘Hey, what’s up?’ He said I looked beautiful. I’d never had a moment of him looking at me like that.”</p> <p>She ended up proceeding on to her wedding and got married. Bryant, in turn, reportedly got drunk and then publicly professed his love for her - but it didn’t stop at his best man’s speech.</p> <p>Later that evening, Desiree shared a dance with him while her new husband danced with her maid of honour. She recalled that while boogying with Bryant, he said, “Why didn’t you ever give me a chance? I would have always taken care of you.”</p> <p>“I asked him what he meant and he said, ‘Nothing. I love you, I love [White’s ex-husband],’ ” she recounted. “Then he got quiet.”</p> <p>Following her big day of festivities, she hoped she’d “misinterpreted” Bryant’s declaration of love and tried sweep it “under the carpet”.</p> <p>“I’m sure it was because he was really drunk and lonely,” she recalled thinking to herself at the time.</p> <p>However, less than a year later, when her marriage began to crumble because her then-husband had adopted “a totally different lifestyle,” Desiree’s relationship with Bryant took a sudden romantic turn.</p> <p>“When [my ex and I] broke up and divorced, I went through a depression and was really secluded myself. I just didn’t want to make an effort for anything,” she said, noting Bryant showered her with emotional support during the separation.</p> <p>“He’d ask me to eat with him or hang out and watch a show. He was trying to be there for me.”</p> <p>Then, to her surprise: “Bryant and I just kissed one day when we were hanging out.”</p> <p>“It was out of nowhere. When he kissed me, I didn’t stop it, then I kissed him back,” she said.</p> <p>Almost immediately, the friends became lovers. And, within a year, she became pregnant with their first son, Sawyer, who’s now 9, and the couple got married in 2012.</p> <p>“[Bryant] said, ‘I always wanted to marry you and this isn’t because of the baby, but let’s start this family right’,” she explained.</p> <p>“We were always friends but when we were together [romantically], it was like nothing was hard to do anymore knowing we had each other.”</p> <p>Now a mother to her and Bryant’s four boys, Desiree said she’s living the dream.</p> <p>“We love being parents. Twenty-year-old Desiree wouldn’t think she could be a mum-of-four kids,” she proclaimed.</p> <p>Desiree first shared her story on TikTok where it quickly went viral, many declaring the story was hard to believe.</p> <p>“This is for real,” she told one commenter. “It’s my real life.”</p>

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Dr Harry Cooper marries partner in sweet ceremony

<p dir="ltr">Dr Harry Cooper, best known for his time on <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em>, has married his long-term partner, Susan “Suze” Sheeran, in a ceremony ten years in the making.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple shared exclusive photos of their special day with <em>Woman’s Day</em>, telling the publication it was a day they waited their whole lives for.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a magical day and I wouldn’t change a thing!” Sheeran told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’ve waited all my life for this bloke … he’s a real genuine person - what you see is what you get.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Cooper and Sheeran tied the knot at their 125-acre property in Port Macquarie earlier this month, with just 42 of their closest friends and family joining them for the intimate ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sheeran glowed in her white lace gown, with Cooper complementing her look with his cream two-piece suit and panama hat and a four-legged friend joining them for the ceremony.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was Suze’s idea to have Wendy in the wedding, our 12-year-old black Australian stock horse mare, as our ring-bearer,” Cooper explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We got Wendy at Christmas time for her to ride.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Sheeran added: “She was dressed up in roses … it was just wonderful.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The <em>Better Homes and Gardens</em> vet admitted he teared up when he saw his bride coming down the aisle.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She was just stunning … I’m all choked up just thinking about it,” he told <em>Woman’s Day</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 78-year-old also recalled the moment he first laid eyes on Sheeran, saying it was love at first sight when they met at a friend’s backyard barbecue.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I saw a blonde lady sitting down at the end of the table … and I thought she was so good looking,” Cooper said cheekily.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Our friends disappeared swimming and we weren’t prepared for that, so we got talking and had a lot in common.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She’s very caring, she’s so hardworking and I’m so lucky to call myself her husband.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We just connected - we clicked straight away,” Sheeran added.</p> <p dir="ltr">To see more photos from the couple’s wedding and their exclusive interview, you can read the full <em>Woman’s Day</em> story <a href="https://www.nowtolove.com.au/celebrity/celeb-news/dr-harry-cooper-surprise-wedding-exclusive-71463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-dd637b07-7fff-d132-4d66-5a4f104d5055"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Matt Jorgensen Wedding Photography (Woman’s Day)</em></p>

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How to get PAID to get married

<p dir="ltr">Couples hoping to tie the knot can now get paid almost $3000 to get married in Italy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The tourism board for one of Italy’s most popular regions Lazio – which includes Rome – has launched a fund giving people the chance to have their dream destination wedding there.</p> <p dir="ltr">Italy is a popular choice for couples looking to get married abroad, but the sector has been hit hard by the pandemic.</p> <p dir="ltr">The ‘In Lazio with Love’ scheme aims to bring weddings back to the country by enticing people with a free €2000 ($A2940) to spend on their Big Day.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nicola Zingaretti, president of Lazio, said the scheme was a way of revitalising the crippled wedding industry.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The scheme is needed to support a sector that has suffered badly from the economic crisis,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have put the significant investment in place also with an eye on the tourism sector, and with the awareness and pride of being able to boast about every part of our region, with many locations among the most magical and fascinating in the world thanks to an unparalleled cultural heritage.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to local media, 9000 couples have wed in Lazio since the start of the pandemic, compared to more than 15,000 in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">To bring weddings back to the region, almost $15 million has been set aside to help fund ceremonies, and both locals and tourists can apply.</p> <p dir="ltr">Valentina Corrado, Lazio’s tourism councillor, said the industry was ready to restart after a devastating two years.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Let’s relaunch a sector that has been on hold for a long time,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The whole wedding chain has suffered economically during the last two years.”</p> <p dir="ltr">To qualify for the grant, couples must get married anywhere in the Lazio region – which includes Rome, Viterbo, Tivoli, Latina and Bracciano.</p> <p dir="ltr">The money must be spent on Lazio-based wedding services, such as planners, venues, catering, and photographers.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-496c19ef-7fff-9a20-a1be-d953547ac366"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Applications can be <a href="https://www.regione.lazio.it/nellazioconamore">made here</a>, up to the end of January 2023, or until the fund runs out. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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