Our story began in 2017, in the most modern of romantic settings: Tinder. Somehow, amongst all the swiping, we managed to find each other.

Our first date came over the Easter bank holiday weekend. We went for a walk along the cliffs just outside Plymouth. We were both nervous and shy, but there was a clear connection between us. We just clicked.

Three months later, after spending more and more time together and realising that what we had was something special, Ben asked Alana to be his girlfriend.

In July 2018, we took our first big step as a couple and got Oscar the pug. At the time, he was our first little family member and a pretty big commitment for two people still figuring everything out together. He also quickly made it clear who was really in charge. One afternoon, we left him alone in the flat and came home to discover that he had helped himself to an entire Domino's pizza. Needless to say, Oscar had absolutely no regrets.

A couple of months later, in September 2018, we moved in together in a flat in Plymouth. A year after that, we made another big move, this time to Launceston in October 2019, where we would put down the roots that would eventually become home.

Then came the two biggest and best chapters of our story. Daisy arrived in 2021, followed by Penelope in 2025. Becoming parents has been the greatest adventure we've shared. Our girls have brought more meaning, love and happiness into our lives than we could ever have imagined.

Looking back, so much has changed since that first date. We've moved homes, built a life together, and grown from just the two of us into a family of five. Through it all, family has become the most important thing in our lives.

And now, after all these years together, we're ready to take one more big step as a family. On 29 May, we'll finally get to call each other husband and wife, surrounded by the people who mean the most to us.

This is the next chapter of our story, and we're so happy that you'll be there to share it with us.