It is said life begin’s at 40. And for Joanne Simmonite, it was certainly true.
Jo met David Shaw after they had both joined a dating website.
“I joined an online dating website because I had moved to a new area,” says Jo, “having two young children and not really knowing anyone to go out with it seemed like a good way to have some adult conversation once the children were in bed.”
Jo said: “After a few online chats we decided to take the plunge and meet up.”
The day before Jo’s 40th birthday, August 27 2010, the pair met at a local pub.
“It was a lovely sunny evening and I was determined to sit outside,” continues Jo, a stay-at-home mum and part-time welfare assistant at Primrose Hill School, Euxton.
“As it got chilly I told Dave I was going back to my car to pick up my jacket – he may have thought that was the last he would see of me but it wasn’t.”
The couple spent the evening chatting. So much so that they hardly drank a drop.
“We talked about anything and everything, we hit it off straight away,” adds Jo, “he had already made a great first impression but when we said goodnight Dave presented me with flowers, a birthday card and a bottle of bubbly to celebrate my birthday the next day.”
Dave, a HGV driver who works in Leyland, proposed shortly after.
“It was very low key,” says Jo.
“We were sitting at home drinking tea when Dave just said, ‘marry me Jo’.”
“I was completely taken by surprise and asked what he’d put in his tea!
“Needless to say after the initial shock I said yes.”
The couple were married on November 10 at Ribby Hall, Wrea Green, under blue sky and shining sun and Jo was walked down the aisle by her son Sam.
The couple danced their first dance as husband and wife to Will Young’s Evergreen, chosen after they went to watch him in concert in Delamere Forest where they sang along to the song and danced in their wellies in the mud.
Reflecting on their big day, the newly weds said: “We had an amazing day from start to finish.” Jo adds: “Dave promised that he would make me laugh at least once everyday, and so far he is definitely in credit!”
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