Our Wedding in Crete

By the time we reached the Euro tunnel, which was only 15 mins away from the school, we had already developed a liking for each other. We eventually arrived in Hardelot, France and shared a room. Emily had the bottom bunk and Beth had the top. Emily decorated her bunk with fairy lights and put up a blanket around the roof of her bunk to make it cosy. Every night we would lie on the bottom bunk and talk. Since then, Beth confessed that she always thought Emily looked beautiful with the fairy lights around her. We stayed in France for a week and by the time we arrived back in the UK we both had crushes on each other. We took two further school trips to Hardelot, in years 10 and 11. Again, Beth would have the top bunk, and Emily would have the bottom, decorated in fairy lights. Again, we would talk at night. Throughout our secondary school lives, we became the best of friends…but always secretly wanting more. However, being gay was scary and that fear held us back. For what seemed an eternity, we remained as just friends…but deep in our hearts we knew we were more. A-Levels were important for us. We studied French and politics together, and all our free lessons were at the same time - we spent every minute together that we could. We tried to convince ourselves we were just ‘best-friends’ although it became apparent to others that there was something more to our friendship. At home, after school, we would FaceTime straight away to do “French-homework” together. We decided we would also fall asleep on FaceTime together, because that's something that people who are ‘just friends’ do! Our A-Levels finished, and we decided we should travel. On the 3rd of January 2023 we flew to Avignon, France! We spent a month just being ourselves together. We would make dinner, slow dance around the kitchen, and hold hands walking through the town. We never slept in our own rooms but shared cuddles in bed instead. We told each other everything about ourselves. Our time together in Avignon was a beautiful, magical month, a time we will never forget. It was the time where we truly fell in love. We returned home… and to reality. Although falling in love was easy, being two women in love back at home felt so scary, coming out is hard! And so once again, the fear held us back and we kept our love a secret and agreed to remain best friends. In February, Emily visited Switzerland. She realised she missed Beth and so on 2nd March 2023 she built up the courage to ask Beth on a proper first date. Beth said yes! We went to see the musical Heathers, at The Other Palace on the 12th of March 2023. Beth turned up to Emily's house on Linden Crescent with a massive bouquet of flowers and Emily had a bouquet of Heathers for Beth. We had an incredible first date. On the way home, Emily stopped Beth at Ebbsfleet train station when it was empty, Beth looked beautiful standing under a red light. Emily asked Beth if she could kiss her, we then had our first kiss, soon followed by our second where Beth kissed Emily by the piano at the train station. We were picked up from the train station where Beth came to meet all the McClouds. No going back now. From there we went on more dates, some initiated by Beth, some by Emily. One day we went for dinner at the Mayfly and demolished a steak, chips, garlic bread and half a chicken burger each. That's when Beth knew Emily was the one. That night Beth stayed at Emily's house. The next morning on the 26th of March 2023 Beth asked Emily to be her girlfriend. FINALLY! 7 years in the making and we were girlfriends. Our favourite story of friends to lovers. As girlfriends we have travelled to France, Greece, Scotland, Switzerland and Spain. On the 14th of September Beth proposed to Emily, and on the 19th of October Emily proposed to Beth. Now here we are, planning our wedding. Our dream is to travel the world as wife and wife. When you know, you know, and we know…we always have xxx

Hello, We hope that you are well! She asked and I said yes. We are delighted to let you know we have chosen our venue and wedding day. We know that as a destination wedding, time and distance may prevent you from coming to be with us on the day. However, we still really wanted you to know that we love you and think about you often – especially at key times in our lives! Please know that we would love for you to join us. But if you are unable to, we completely understand, and would like nothing more than your thoughts and kind wishes on the day. We will be having a wedding party back in the UK for our loved ones to celebrate with us so no one misses out ❤️ Please RSVP by May 1st 2025 And look out for the details of our UK party later in the summer of 2026. Lots of love, Emily and Beth xxx