Special Valentine for Standard couple (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Special Valentine for Standard couple

A CIRENCESTER couple voted the most romantic pair in the Cotswolds by Standard readers have celebrated their first Valentine's Day as a married couple.

And lovebirds Julia and Neil Armstrong say they are more in love now than they have ever been before.

The pair who married last summer at Watermoor Church have been reminiscing about why all their friends still think they are the perfect couple.

Julia, 27, said it had been an instant attraction when she met Neil at the King's Head Hotel, where they both still work, nearly seven years ago.

She said: "Neil had only come for three weeks but he ended up staying. He was going to go back to Ascot but he never did so I must have done something.

"It was pretty much love at first sight - I saw him and he saw me. After our first date we just clicked. Everyone I know says we are really well suited."

Julia said she and Neil received lots of support after they entered the perfect couple competition and they were delighted when they ended up winning.

She said: "We got to stay at this lovely hotel. It was fantastic, especially being on the other side of it considering where we work."

Now after marrying last year at the same church where Julia's parents wed 39 years ago, the pair are looking forward to spending the rest of their lives together.

Julia said the wedding and the reception which was held at the Bingham Hall, not far from their Watermoor home, was one of the best days of her life.

She said: "For the reception my brother built this big rocket, because of Neil's name, which we came out of for the first dance."

Julia admitted she had no idea what 29-year-old Neil was planning for their first Valentine's Day since their wedding.

She said: "Neil is very secretive around Valentine's Day. He has a few things up his sleeves. In the past seven years he has been very romantic and we are not working this year so we will see."