SURPRISE WEDDING

FRAUKE GOLDING GOT MARRIED FOR THE FIRST TIME AGED 52 TO HER PARTNER ADRIAN. SHE IS DIRECTOR OF HER OWN BUSINESS, HAMPSHIRE FURNITURE (HAMPSHIREFURNITURE.CO.UK).

I HAD NO INTENTION OF EVER GETTING MARRIED – I’D HAD RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE ADRIAN, BUT THEY ONLY EVER LASTED THREE OR FOUR YEARS. I’M VERY INDEPENDENT AND I’VE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY DOING MY OWN THING.

I KNEW ADRIAN FROM OUR SOCIAL CIRCLES, BUT WE WERE JUST ACQUAINTANCES, NOT FRIENDS. HE’D BEEN MARRIED FOR 23 YEARS BEFORE GETTING DIVORCED.

I HAD A GOOD FRIEND WHO WAS GOING TO TRAVEL ROUND AUSTRALIA FOR A YEAR AND I TOLD HER I WOULD LOVE TO VISIT HER OUT THERE FOR A HOLIDAY. ADRIAN ALSO KNEW

HER AND WAS PLANNING TO VISIT HER TOO

– SO SHE SUGGESTED WE MEET UP, GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER AND GO OUT TO VISIT

HER TOGETHER. WE HAD NO IDEA AT THE

TIME THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO SET US UP

– IT WAS ONLY LATER THAT WE REALISED.

WE MET FOR DINNER A FEW TIMES AND WE JUST CLICKED, AND I THOUGHT, “OH, YOU’RE OKAY. I ACTUALLY DO FANCY YOU!” IT WAS ME WHO EVENTUALLY BROACHED THE SUBJECT OF OUR FRIENDSHIP TURNING INTO SOMETHING ROMANTIC. HE WAS TOO AFRAID OF SCARING ME OFF! NEARLY A YEAR LATER, WHEN WE

WERE READY TO GO TO AUSTRALIA, WE WERE LIVING TOGETHER.

ADRIAN NEVER ACTUALLY PROPOSED TO ME. OVER THE YEARS, WE WENT ON HOLIDAYS TO A FEW PLACES WHERE YOU COULD GET MARRIED ON THE BEACH. EVERY TIME WE SAW A

BEACH WEDDING, ADRIAN WOULD SAY >>

WHAT A GREAT IDEA HE THOUGHT IT WAS, AND HOW HE’D LOVE A BEACH WEDDING AT SUNSET. I JUST TOOK IT AS A JOKE.

BUT THEN HE DECIDED TO THROW ME A SURPRISE WEDDING ON THE BEACH IN ST LUCIA. I WASN’T SUPPOSED TO FIND

OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL THE BIG DAY! BUT ONE DAY, IN THE CAR AFTER VISITING HIS BROTHER GRAHAM, WE GOT A PHONE CALL ON THE HANDS-FREE FROM HIS BROTHER’S

“I never thought I’d marry as I’m very independent but then a friend started matchmaking …”

PARTNER. SHE SAID, “WHAT’S THIS ABOUT YOU TWO GETTING MARRIED NEXT YEAR?” TURNED OUT ADRIAN HAD DISCUSSED THE WEDDING PLANS WITH GRAHAM.

I FELT QUITE SHOCKED, BUT I DID WANT TO MARRY HIM, SO WE WENT AHEAD AND GOT MARRIED ON THE BEACH IN ST LUCIA ON VALENTINE’S DAY.

I MADE ADRIAN WALK DOWN THE AISLE WITH ME BECAUSE I WAS TERRIFIED. I WAS VERY HAPPY – I SPENT THE WHOLE TIME GRINNING – BUT I WAS SHAKING LIKE A LEAF, AND ADRIAN SAYS IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT I WAS PETRIFIED. IT WAS A REALLY LOVELY DAY – WE HAD 12 GUESTS WHO FLEW OUT TO ST LUCIA, INCLUDING MY MOTHER, WHO WAS 85 AT THE TIME.

NOW IT’S VERY UNUSUAL FOR ADRIAN

AND ME TO BE APART. WE DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER. MY ADVICE FOR WOMEN LOOKING FOR LOVE IN THEIR FIFTIES? DON’T GO

LOOKING FOR IT – YOU’LL NEVER FIND IT. BUT IF YOU DO COME ACROSS IT, IT DOES WORK. EVEN IF YOU THINK YOU’LL NEVER GET MARRIED, YOU REALLY CAN NEVER TELL WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.