Dance of my DREAMS

For Jade Cotton, 30, from Birmingham, romance was only ever a dream… then she met Andy.

Staring in the shop window, I gawked at the pristine white dresses in the display.

They were stunning, long beautiful gowns – worlds away from the navy-blue skirt I was wearing that day.

It was early 2015, and I passed this wedding shop regularly, stopping to admire all the beautiful dresses, dreaming of my own big day.

Only, I worried that I’d never have the chance.

At the age of 28 and living with cerebral palsy, epilepsy and scoliosis, that big white wedding seemed nothing but a fantasy.

Who would love me with all my disabilities?

Although I was on dating sites, I was yet to meet the man of my dreams.

And even if I did, would he be able to see past my disabilities?

I doubted it, but it didn’t stop me from trying.

Then, one night in May 2015, I matched with a man named Andy, then 37.

We started chatting and the conversation flowed naturally.

There was an immediate spark and I felt butterflies in my tummy.

But if we stood any chance at all, I knew that I needed to come clean about my disabilities.

I filled him in on everything first and then typed: I understand if that changes your mind.

I waited nervously as I saw the dots blink on my screen – meaning that Andy was typing his answer…

And I prepared myself for the usual excuses…

That it was too much for him… that he thought I was strong and amazing but that we just weren’t very compatible… I’d heard every line by now. I waited impatiently. I just wanted somebody to love me for me, to understand that my wheelchair didn’t define me.

But I’d been stung so many times in the past…

Then Andy replied. Thank you for being honest, he wrote. But that doesn’t change anything for me. I smiled at the screen. We met up for our first date not long afterwards.

Andy was tall with blond, shaggy hair and blue eyes.

He had such a wicked sense of humour and made me happier than I’d felt in years.

We became official, speaking daily, and he came to visit me every two weeks. I fell head over heels in love with him and we moved in together after a year.

Life was going so well and we

were so happy together.

Then in January 2017, Andy took another big leap.

Wheeling me into our hotel room after a night on the town, he seemed very nervous. ‘What’s wrong?’ I asked. Then, suddenly, he dropped down on one knee. ‘Will you marry me?’ he smiled. I stared at him in shock. ‘Of course!’ I sobbed happily, and he wrapped his arms around me.

Finally, I was going to have my special day.

We flew into wedding planning mode straight away, setting the date for 4 August last year.

We thought of everything, from the size of the aisle for my wheelchair, down to the colour scheme for the reception.

I had a dress specially made and it surpassed all those I’d stared at in the window before.

It was my dress – unique for me, and I loved every detail.

Sweetheart neckline, tutu skirt… it was everything I’d ever imagined.

And, the best part about it all? Knowing that at the end of the aisle was the man of my dreams!

We said ‘I do’ at the Crowne Plaza in Birmingham, and then moved on to our reception.

But there was one thing we’d forgotten all about during the wedding planning. Our first dance! We hadn’t actually planned one… but, at our reception, as Whitney Houston’s song I Will

Always Love You rang out, Andy took my hand.

He led me to the middle of the dance floor, and, all around, our loved ones watched us with tears in their eyes.

Leaning down, Andy hugged and kissed me as we swayed gently to the music.

It was everything I could have imagined and more.

As the song drew to a close, everybody began cheering.

And – despite the flashing of their cameras – in that moment, it felt like it was just me and Andy in the room.

It was the most magical day, and it was perfect in every way.

I didn’t think I’d ever meet a man who’d accept me for who I was. But Andy did.

He said yes to me and to my disability – and everything else in between, and just loved me for me.

First he whisked me off my feet… then around the dance floor on our wedding day!

I finally had my dream day, and I couldn’t ask for more.