‘I choose you again’: 80 couples reaffirm love at Valentine’s Day event

Summary

Flowers, confetti and big hats at the ready - we're joining 80 couples (and one dog in a pram) as they celebrate their love on Valentine's Day
Singer Pixie Lott gives a surprise performance at the BBC-led event which sees couples renew their commitment to each other
Coventry Cathedral has been transformed for each couple to face each other and say: "I choose you again"
We hear from couples with somewhat unconventional love stories - from a 'lunch out ploy proposal' to a 'romantic postie' acting out a scene from Love Actually

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Moment 80 couples renew vows on Valentine's Day

Live Reporting

Written by Will Jefford & Tanya Gupta, edited by Allen Cook

Chance meetings and surprises on the path to lovepublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Let us hear from some of the couples taking part who have spoken to BBC Radio CWR about how they found love.
They have told us about chance meetings, surprise encounters and moments that went on to change lives and sent them on new paths together:
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Kelly and Gavin are among today's couples
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Meet James and Gloria, another couple taking part in BBC Radio CWR's "We Still Do"
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Tim and Nannw Jenkins will be celebrating today as well
Cathedral 'beginning to wake up'published at 08:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Rosie Eaton
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
It feels like the cathedral is beginning to wake up as BBC staff arrive to finish off their final preparations.
There is the sound of echoing heels from those of us already dressed up and the first couple are already here!
Now I just need to work out how to wear a fascinator and a pair of headphones at the same time...
Remembering dad - but 'still loved, still safe, still warm'published at 08:22 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Richard Williams
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire
Let’s go back to those neighbouring couples getting ready to take part today, where Stacey Cunningham is feeling “a bit jittery”.
He said he had the idea of being in the celebration after Claire, who lost her father last year, got upset while they were cooking Sunday dinner.
Stacey had seen Coventry Cathedral on TV and the lights were shining through the windows which reminded him of Claire’s father taking his oath as a Freeman of the City there – and his name was Ray.
“I just got the idea,” he said, “seeing the ray of light shining."
He said they would be taking part in today's affirmation in the same place her father took his oath and "knowing that his daughter was still loved, still safe, still warm".
In pictures: Couples as they first tied the knotpublished at 08:11 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Let's bring you some of gorgeous wedding pictures that people have shared with us from when they first said "I do".
See if you can spot them in the cathedral later today:
Image source, Shireen and Chris Stuart
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Shireen Stuart lost her wedding ring in the garden in 2017 and Chris surprised her with a new one last November
Image source, Kelly and Gavin Hobbins
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Kelly and Gavin Hobbins met on Valentine's Day, discovered they were pregnant the next year and got engaged the year after that - all on 14 February
Image source, Karin and Richard Burke
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Karin and Richard Burke, who met at work over the phone, are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this year and affirming their love today
Image source, Sammy and Ryan Hayes
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Sammy and Ryan Hayes met on a works night out watching England in the World Cup - now they are planning a big life adventure travelling Europe in a "home on wheels"
Neighbouring couples in We Still Do surprise movepublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Image source, Yvonne and Phill Panter
Two couples who live next door to each other are committing to their love today - and both chose to take part without knowing their neighbours would too.
Yvonne and Phill Panter, from Bedworth, met at work when he was 17 and she was 28.
Everyone said it would not last, they said, but they have been together 35 years.
"We proved them wrong," Yvonne added.
BBC CWR showed up with a local band, The Upsiders, to surprise Yvonne with a rendition of The Beatles When I'm 64 on her 64th birthday and Phill got down on one knee to ask her to take part today.
Image source, Claire and Stacey Cunningham
Well, after they heard their neighbours on the radio, Claire and Stacey Cunningham (pictured above) then realised they were all talking part in the celebration at the cathedral.
Married for 20 years with two children, Stacey said when he suggested affirming their love to Claire "the look of shock on my wife's face really was filled with joyous emotions".
"I want to show her how much I really do love her," he added.
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BBC CWR showed up with a local band, The Upsiders, to surprise Yvonne on Phill's behalf
Same-sex couple will wear original wedding outfits todaypublished at 07:51 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Image source, Ellie and Ali Bright
A couple who met at church but were unable to get married in one because of restrictions on same-sex marriages – are looking forward to taking part in today's love celebration at Coventry Cathedral.
Ellie and Ali Bright said faith was important to them and not being able to get married in a church was a difficult hurdle to overcome.
They also faced having to postpone their wedding in 2020 due to the Covid lockdown as well as opposition from family over their plans.
For today's event, they will make it extra special for themselves as they will wear the outfits from their original wedding day.
Coventry Cathedral has welcomed same-sex couples to take part with the Reverend Nitano Muller saying: "The church has always been a space of welcome."
- Read how the couple faced a job change, a house move and IVF, all during the pandemic in our story on their journey to becoming a family.
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Listen on BBC Sounds: Meet Ellie and Ali
Random text message ended in happily ever afterpublished at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
When Donovan Shears sent a text message to a random number in 1998, it changed the course of his life.
He had been given his first mobile phone for his 18th birthday and had just discovered text messaging.
He made up a random number and sent off a message saying "hello", to which his future wife Kirsty wrote back "hi".
"That single moment led to over 20 years of love, laughter, and partnership," they said.
Out of several messages to unknown numbers he sent from the Coventry pub where he was working that night, Kirsty in Cleethorpes was the only one to reply.
The couple got hitched in Scotland and now have two children, aged six and nine.
- Read how they first met at Coventry railway station for their first night out in our story on that "magical" time.
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Listen on BBC Sounds: How the prank text message in 1998 brought them together
Listen: Coventry Cathedral welcomes allpublished at 07:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
You can hear now from the Reverend Nitano Muller about how everyone is welcome at the cathedral.
Later today, he will be welcoming everyone to the BBC-hosted event and saying a prayer to open it:
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Listen on BBC Sounds: Reverend Nitano Muller speaks to Vic Minett about inclusivity at Coventry Cathedral
Pledging true love - with a Haribo ringpublished at 07:20 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Image source, Angela and Chris Egan
Well, we've just heard about an onion ring proposal and, sometimes, when necessity requires, you have to make do with what you have to hand, right? Here's another...
Chris and Angela Egan, from Mancetter, north Warwickshire, were married for 25 years and when this event came up, he reproposed on their wedding anniversary - with a Haribo ring.
The pair's wedding was on HMS Warrior in December 2001, followed by a private blessing in New York while they were on their honeymoon.
'I proposed to him with an onion ring'published at 07:13 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
BBC Breakfast is live this morning with some of the couples at Coventry Cathedral - including Mat and Emma Jones, who have a slightly unusual story about how they chose to take part.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, Emma wanted to thank her husband for his support and so got an onion ring out of the freezer, went down on one knee and asked him if he wanted to renew their vows.
When the couple heard about today's event after Emma was given the all clear, they thought it would be the "perfect" way to reaffirm their love.
Cathedral rearranged for celebration of lovepublished at 07:00 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
The We Still Do layout in Coventry Cathedral might look a little different to those who go to the building regularly.
Seats have been rearranged so that every couple can face each other during the celebration so they can gaze lovingly into each other's eyes (if they choose to) as they reaffirm their love for each other.
Couple share stories of love winning throughpublished at 06:49 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Image source, Caroline and Edward Backhouse
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Caroline Backhouse said she and Edward had a difficult start to married life but "he's stuck by me"
Some of the highly personal stories shared by couples at the celebration today have been of love triumphing over adversity.
One Coventry couple, Caroline and Edward Backhouse, married in the face of a tumour diagnosis - now Caroline wants Edward to know just "how much she adores him".
While Jessica and Jonathon Barton, also from Coventry, described their tough time after their children were born prematurely and how they have come through it.
Image source, Lynn and Garry Bench
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Lynn and Garry Bench were always thankful for his safe return from the Falklands conflict
Elsewhere, a Nuneaton couple who married in the 80s, Lynn and Garry Bench, recalled how they fast-tracked their wedding when Garry, who was in the Royal Navy, was sent to the Falklands War with HMS Hermes.
"We are always thankful for Garry coming home safely at the end of the war and being able to get married, when many others didn't," Lynn said.
Image source, Jessica and Jonathon Barton
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Jessica and Jonathon Barton came through tough times after their children were born, they said
While Anya and Phil Dean captured the air of fresh starts and optimism in their words, as all the couples plan a joyful start to the year by affirming their love in our BBC-hosted event.
"No matter what life has thrown at us, we continue to choose each other, every day," the Coventry couple said.
They added while they did not know what the next 10 years held, they were sure they would be "doing them together".
What is going to happen and when?published at 06:39 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Image source, Getty Images
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The celebration is taking place at Coventry Cathedral
Grab your fanciest hat and some comfy shoes for the wedding disco later and get ready for the occasion:
- Couples and guest will be getting to the church (cathedral) on time from 10:00 GMT
- The actual event starts from 11:15 GMT with prayers, readings and music
- At the key moment, all the couples will stand and turn to each other to express their love
- Then it will be time for photos from 11:45 GMT in the grounds of the cathedral
- BBC Radio CWR - which has masterminded the whole event - will play us out with a wedding disco, featuring songs chosen by the couples from 13:00 GMT
We'll be bringing you all the highlights so enjoy the love, from us!
Scores of couples set to celebrate love todaypublished at 06:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February
Image source, Handout
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Dozens of couples are taking part today including Elaine and Eric Hunter who lost their partners but found love again online
It is Valentine's Day and love is all around us especially at Coventry Cathedral today where dozens of couples will take part in an affirmation of their love this morning, a celebration of their wedding promises.
Some have been married for a year, others together for decades and they all have their own tales, from love at first sight to happy ever after - and some have come through tough times but love won out in the end.
They have all shared their stories with us ahead of today and we will be sharing some of them with you ahead of the main event.
Ready? Let's grab our flowers, confetti, hankies and big hats and get started!
Image source, Other
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Nearly 80 married couples will take part today