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October 13, 2021
Dodford Manor, Northamptonshire

Alison & Laurence

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Laurence Hoffmeister

and

Alison Exley

October 13, 2021

Dodford Manor, Northamptonshire

How we met

Alison's Perspective

It is a long story. When I started university I went to the activities fair to see what societies and sports I could join and instantly got drawn to American Football so went to the taster session and that is where we met, my first words to Laurence being "you can't throw a ball properly" as we were doing receiver drills. The following Wednesday we had a social and being attracted to Laurence I thought I would make the first move because I'm a strong independent woman. During the social I made it obvious that I was interested in him but he didn't notice, I pinned an I'm single badge on him and dare him to ask a girl for her number in the room (mind you I was the only girl there) and nothing. I decided that wasn't going to work but when I went to ask him for his number he had disappeared. Giving up hope I still went to the Tuesday training and Laurence had found me on Facebook afterwards to tell me how amazing I had done keeping up with the boys. We started talking and I convinced him to come to another team members birthday party. At the party, he still showed no interest in me. At the point I was close to giving up, he walked me home and we had strength and conditioning the next morning and I told him he should pick me up and we will go together. The next morning he was waiting at the gate at 6:40am on a Saturday morning ready to go - unbeknownst to me I had been hit by Freshers flu and had a sore chest, I still went motivated to get fit but by the end of the session was dying of chest pain. After phoning 111 I was with Laurence at the Royal Infirmary them telling me I had a chest infection and giving me antibiotics. Feeling bad that Laurence had missed a rugby game to come with me, I took him to dinner at TGI Fridays, he walked me home and as none of my flatmates were there he spent the night next to me fully clothed, sleeping on top of the covers to make sure I was okay. And that's how it all started.

How we met

Laurence's Perspective

We met at American football.

The Proposal

Alison's Perspective

We were in Canada, and I had a suspicion he was going to propose but he pinky promised he wouldn't. So it is the 29/10/2018 and we are going to meet his Aunty Mary and Uncle Gordon at High Park, with all the beautiful autumn colours. We are already late because he has insisted on getting a doughnut from Timmy's and then we walk past the animal farm and of course, I get distracted, so by the time we get there we see Aunty Mary and she sees us, says Uncle Gordon is in the toilet and she will go fetch him. Standing by the large maple leaf, Laurence turns to me, gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him. Of course, I said no, I mean yes. And it was just wonderful and the reason why we are all celebrating today.

The Proposal

Laurence's Perspective

I designed a ring, panicked the whole time carrying it around, she had the cheek to ask me if I knew what finger it went on but overall a success.

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