Fairytale engagement by the river in Stratford
IT was time to entertain a glass of champagne after a romantic couple - who were childhood sweethearts - lived out their fairytale when they got engaged in the recent snow fall in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Henry Slaughter from Stratford and his fiancée Beth Sheppard chose the perfect winter’s day to get engaged and it had everything going for it from the start.
There was bright sunshine against a brilliant blue sky, snow on Bancroft Gardens, a calm, peaceful River Avon with a couple of inquisitive swans watching the proposal take place from the riverside and all this was followed by a champagne lunch with roses on a reserved table in Carluccio’s in Waterside.
The temperature outside might have been freezing but on that special day the glow from the hearts of Beth and Henry brought smiles to everyone’s faces because it was such a memorable occasion as two people had just committed their futures to each other.
Henry, aged 25, who is Stratford born and bred told the Herald he and Beth had known each since they were childhood sweethearts at Treloar School and College in Hampshire.
“We used to date and started chatting again in February this year and got back together in July. Beth lives in Cambridge and visited me in Stratford a week before Christmas and I chose to ask her to marry me by the river. She was overwhelmed and we are thrilled," Henry said.
Beth, aged 23, has cerebral palsy, and is studying for her MA in creative writing and English literature. Henry has muscular dystrophy which means the time-old tradition of proposing on one knee was undertaken by Henry’s good friend and carer, Mark Spriggs from Stratford.
“Henry asked me to do that for him,” Mark said. “I was honoured and privileged. Beth immediately laughed and said, “am I marrying you as well?” and I said “yes, it’s buy one, get one free!” Beth was very moved and said “yes” to Henry’s marriage proposal.
“The day was perfect. There was a freshness and whiteness about it. We’d booked the table at Carluccio’s beforehand and the staff were really kind to us at the celebratory lunch after Henry and Beth got engaged. It was the staff’s idea to place red roses and rose petals on the table. The meal included champagne, pate, calamari, sea bass, spicy sausage, mushrooms and linguine. Afterwards we went to Prospero Lounge and when the manager there found out about the engagement we were served with a free cocktail on the house. During the afternoon Henry’s family and friends popped into to share in the joy of the occasion.”
Henry went with his mother – Louise Whitehouse – to buy the engagement ring which was eventually to be placed on Beth’s finger.
There’s still a stag do and hen do plus a wedding to plan for the newly engaged couple but it looks as though they will tie the knot next year with a honeymoon in Italy the most likely destination.
Henry – a season ticket holder at Aston Villa – said he and Beth were very happy.
“We are just looking forward to all the years we have together,” Henry said.
