ACCOUNTANT Samantha Elliott admits she 'has a thing about numbers'. Long before she had even met her husband she had decided on the date she would marry ...10/10/2020.

"I work with numbers and hate odd numbers and like the fact that 10 and 10 add up to 20. I chose that date but never imagined someone would marry me," she said.

And so when Steve proposed to her in March 2018 whilst on holiday in Lanzarote she said it would have to be a long engagement - which would also give them time to save up for a grand wedding for 100 guests.

Of course, no one could have predicted that a global pandemic would scupper many of her plans - but she still managed to marry on her chosen date over two and a half years later.

The couple, from Poole, met about 12 years ago when she was 16 and he was 18 in a car park.

"He was a boy racer and we met at the Sovereign Centre car park, " says Sam, laughing.

The engagement was a far more romantic setting in Lanzarote where they had gone to celebrate Steve's brother Scott's 30th birthday, along with Scott's wife Vicky.

"He hired the whole yacht for a sunset cruise with a crew who served us endless drinks and a barbecue. We anchored up in a bay and swam. We returned to the harbour at sunset sitting on the front with blankets. They tricked me into having pictures taken and when I turned round he was on one knee! I was so shocked I nearly went overboard!"

Steve even had a ring which he put on her finger and they called everyone with their exciting news.

As for the impact covid had she says: "I think it was a little bit bitter-sweet. Part of me wished it hadn't happened because we couldn't have all our friends and family there but at least we didn't spend thousands of pounds as a result and we came out of it with savings and not debt. Now we can spend money on the house and do up the bathroom.

"It was really sad my nan and his grandparents couldn't be there but it was a blessing in disguise. I had become a real 'Bridezilla' obsessing about my wedding but I am really decisive. The day after the engagement I'd already chosen my colour scheme and that's what I had. We had a feeling it would be a really big wedding, especially with Steve being part Greek.

"Our guest list was just under 100 for the day. We ended up with 13 guests plus bride and groom! Covid had a huge impact. Every week plans were changing right up until 2 weeks before the wedding when they announced it was going from 30 to 15. It was the most stressful time of my life. Up until the day before I didn't know if we would marry or not."

The wedding went ahead on 10/10/2020 at The Harbour Heights Hotel. The bridal party consisted of parents, step parents, Steve's brother, niece and sister -in -law, and Sam's cousin, auntie and uncle. Over 100 people watched it on Zoom, including Sam's aunty in Australia.

The most stressful aspect was "Cutting the guest list and trying pick who could come and tell the people who couldn't."

The best memories of the day were: "Walking down the aisle and marrying my best friend. When we were pronounced Husband and Wife we heard cheering and our four bridesmaids and groomsmen ( who had not been allowed to attend) had secretly booked tables in the hotel for lunch and watched us get married from the other terrace."

Was there a first dance?

"Yes but noone else was allowed to dance and we had to be out of the venue by 6pm."

They had planned a honeymoon back in Lanzarote which had to be cancelled and they enjoyed four fantastic days in Cornwall, including sitting in a hot tub in the sunshine eating wedding cake!

"It was amazing! Although it wasn't the day we planned. It was the best day of our lives and we are so happy we didn't postpone."