Page 47 - Port Douglas Magazine 35

love.

Romance
STORIES OF

#storiesofromance

chris & beth

WORDS by Jacqueline Long

This love story begins in Port’s famous Irish Pub, Passage Peak for sunrise. After attempting to
Paddy’s Bar, where an English boy from Manchester propose romantically a couple of times while Beth
met a girl from Warragul, Victoria and their connection was all glammed up and looking her beautiful best,
was instant. A first date quickly followed with a he decided that while she was sweaty, dehydrated,
memorable day out to the Great Barrier Reef where without make-up and a bit sleepy-eyed with some of
“Chris took me diving for the very first time,” says last night’s mascara smudged around her eyes, was
Beth. the moment. Chris dropped to one knee and asked
Beth to marry him. The sunrise was spectacular,
Working and living together in Port Douglas now for the moment was truly perfect, and Chris was the
five years, it is safe to say this couple now calls the happiest guy around with his wife-to-be by his side,
town home, along with Fergus, their Dachshund puppy, recites Anna as part of the marriage ceremony.
who has settled into the family and is becoming well
known himself even with his Instagram following “Unfortunately, after we got engaged, it was hard to
@hesfergalicious. plan anything as we couldn’t even set a date due to
the pandemic,” said the couple. “Not everyone would
In September 2020 whilst on holiday on Hamilton be able to make it due to restrictions and lockdowns.
Island, Chris asked Beth to marry him and the We didn’t want some people to miss out. Interstate
couple’s engagement quickly followed. This moment borders weren’t open, let alone international borders
was beautifully summed up during their wedding by and there was no insight as to when the world would
their celebrant Anna Soltewedel. “After speaking return to ‘normal’. Vaccinations didn’t even exist.
with Chris, she weaved this special anecdote into our The thought of planning a wedding and having to
ceremony, a funny memory for us to enjoy and it was postpone it was not something they wanted to spoil
just so beautiful,” said Beth.
their special occasion. “So, we decided not to wait
Chris had a ring literally burning a hole in his pocket. and eloped instead, life’s too short. We told our
After a few almost ‘perfect moments’ where things immediate family and kept it a secret from everyone
didn’t go as planned, he committed to creating the else which was quite difficult. As much as we wished
perfect moment instead. Chris dragged Beth out of everyone could have been there, we knew they would
bed at 4.30am to hike to the summit of Hamilton’s understand and respect our decision.”