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Weddings. While they’re a time of joyous celebration for the groom and bride to-be, they can be be a painful reminder of the smugdom you’re missing out on if you don’t have that special someone in your life.
The moment the invite wings it way through their letterbox seasoned singletons are normally conjuring up images of being relegated to THAT forgotten table at the back of the reception, and fending off the advances of the groom’s not-so-hunky and not-so-sober entourage.
But for one footloose wedding guest what could have been a nightmare scenario, soon turned into something akin to a dream when cupid’s arrow took a surprise turn in her direction.
When Llia Apostolou was gearing up to attend her sister’s wedding back in 2014, she cheekily extended the invitation to a complete stranger in the hopes of bagging herself that coveted plus one.
Are you a man? Can I borrow you for a wedding next weekend? Bonus points if you can source a baby that I can pretend is mine too.
— Llia Apostolou (@Llia) July 6, 2014
And just a day later one man was ready to take on the challenge of becoming a modern day Prince Charming.
@Llia I can do this, I've got a suit and everything!
— Phil Gibson (@philgibson01) July 6, 2014
Cue the most adorable Twitter exchange and a firm date in the wedding season diary!
@philgibson01 See you at the altar.
— Llia Apostolou (@Llia) July 6, 2014
@Llia It's a date! Just a date though, right?
— Phil Gibson (@philgibson01) July 6, 2014
@philgibson01 is this how internet dating works?
— Llia Apostolou (@Llia) July 6, 2014
@Llia My Grandma already wants to meet you.
— Phil Gibson (@philgibson01) July 6, 2014
@philgibson01 that's nice and all, but I didn't invite her to my wedding. No, wait, THE wedding. Slip of the tongue.
— Llia Apostolou (@Llia) July 6, 2014
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more fairytale a surprise update from the couple three years later had us reaching for the hankies!
Did it! Here's me and my wife @Llia on the way back from the registry office. pic.twitter.com/Q117Rx1XE2
— Phil Gibson (@philgibson01) July 4, 2017
Almost exactly three years later, I can say… Reader, I married him. 😎 https://t.co/4Gldzbbsw2
— Llia Apostolou (@Llia) July 5, 2017
Wedding joy – the internet can’t get enough!
And as it turns out the newlyweds didn’t bond over a drunken snog at Llia’s sister’s big day, but instead met IRL – yes this still happens! – the same week they started their Twitter exchange.
The Twitterverse is a sucker for a romantic story and follower’s of the couple’s tale Tweeted in their droves.
this is the cutest thing i've seen today pic.twitter.com/1C0iVn5HHm
— MarÃa Elba (@Elbaporlacresta) July 5, 2017
I AM SO HAPPY I AM REALLY SHOUTING ON THE INTERNET XXXXXXXX
— Anna Rafferty (@raffers) July 5, 2017
Awww! What do you think of this unlikely love story? Join the conversation on the @womanmagazine Facebook page.