Behind the headlines: We got together fast… and stayed together! Two couples share their stories

These couples couldn’t wait to get started. Here, they share the stories behind their whirlwind romances...

Fewer couples these days are taking things slowly, instead diving into holidays abroad and even moving in together when they still barely know one another. Meanwhile, TV programmes such as Big Brother, Naked Attraction and Love Island show potential partners getting up close and

Fiona Brown, 37, and husband Phil, 35, live in Southend, Essex. They learnt they were expecting seven months after they met. They now also have a second child.

Phil says: I was on a lads’ night out at a club on New Year’s Eve in 2012 when I got chatting to Fiona.

There was an instant attraction and we went on our first date 10 days later. I knew right away she was The One. There were no awkward moments and it felt completely natural.

After a few months, I moved in with Fiona. I wanted to see her every day.

We discussed wanting children, but she’d been on the pill for a long time so we thought it might take a year to conceive. It only took three weeks, but the surprise was a happy one. Some people worry too much about personal before they even know each other’s surnames.

Just 18% of Brits now believe you should wait until after your wedding to move in together. Many even claim moving fast is the key to relationship success.

We speak to two couples who didn’t hang about when it came to making a big move… what others think. There’s no ‘right’ way of doing things if you’re happy.

Fiona says: I knew from our first date Phil was special. I drank too much wine and was sick, but he was a perfect gent, putting me to bed. After a few dates, we talked about how we were ready to settle down. There was no game-playing.

Four months in, we decided to buy a house and start trying for a baby. It all happened very quickly.

I had Seth in April 2014 and Phil proposed a few weeks later. My family were surprised, but could see I was happy. We married in August 2015 and had our second son, Zachariah, last June.

Fast-tracking our relationship has made us stronger and shows we can get through anything.

‘We decided to have a baby soon after meeting’ ‘There was no game playing’

‘After just one date, I invited her on holiday ’ ‘I never believed in soulmates’

Louise Whitfield, 27, and husband Joe, 30, live in Ifield, West Sussex. They met in 2011.

Joe says: A friend invited me to a dinner party and mentioned a girl was coming who he thought I might like. When I saw Lou, I was instantly attracted to her.

We were both shy, but added each other on social media after and started speaking all the time.

We had our first date on Brighton beach two weeks later and got on so well. I’d booked a holiday to Barbados with a couple of friends, but as things were going well with Lou, I knew I’d miss her – so I invited her to come.

I was pretty nervous, as we’d only been on one date at this point, but I felt like I could just go on a big adventure with her and it’d be fine.

Louise says: I never believed in soulmates, but the moment I met Joe, I knew he was special. When he asked if I wanted to go to Barbados, I was surprised, but really excited.

It was weird being on holiday with him and his two friends, but we got on so well.

It was clear he was the one for me and getting to know his mates gave me inside information on his personality – like he’s grumpy in the mornings.

We got married in July 2015 and are still so happy.