'Everything was perfect': Couple say 'I do' on the most romantic day of the year
A couple who met during lockdown say they had ‘the best’ day when they tied the knot on the most romantic day of the year – Valentine’s Day.
Joy and Bill Herbert were married at Wakefield Registry Office on Saturday, surrounded by friends and family.
Joy, 72, who lived in Altofts, and Bill, 71, Huddersfield, met online in 2019.
“I moved in with Bill just before the first lockdown in 2020 and we got through it without killing each other, so realised we were in for the long haul!” Joy said.
Joy, a retired Occupational Therapist at WDH and Bill, a retired butcher, now live in Norton and are both huge football fans, cheering on Newcastle United.
And, because of that, Valentine’s Day was not really the reason they chose February 14 as their big day.
“At first, it was the only weekend that Newcastle FC didn’t have a match,” Joy said.
"Bill is a Geordie and has encouraged me to be as passionate about the Toon as he is.”
But as it turned out, Newcastle were playing in an FA Cup game against Aston Villa – and the couple couldn’t – and didn’t – miss it.
"We watched it at the reception,” Joy said. “And kept checking the score on our phones.
"The whole day was amazing.
"After all the rain we’ve been having, we had sunshine on Saturday, it was a perfect day with our friends and family.
"The whole day surpassed everything we had imagined it to be.”
A true family affair, Joy and Bill have three daughters between them, Rebecca and Lisa, who were witnesses and Jenny who, as a registrar, officially married the happy couple.
They also have eight grandchildren to dote on.
Their nuptials were followed by a small champagne reception with family before heading to King’s Croft in Pontefract for their Valentine’s Party night.
“We had the best day. Everything was perfect.
"The weather, the ceremony, the reception and the party night – Bill and I were the last to leave the dancefloor.
“And to top it off, of course, Newcastle won 3-1!”