Romy and Rhys met at the University of Reading, fell in love and had their faces displayed on a giant gazebo at an Open Day… eight years later, the Alumni Team got that gazebo to their wedding day to surprise them.
Rhys McDonnell studied Psychology at Reading, while Romy Barton studied Economics and Econometrics, both graduating in 2016. They lived in St Patrick’s Hall and knew of each other in their first year, but it wasn’t until the second year that their love story would begin.
Romy said: “We properly met during Paddy’s week of our second year, in 2014, when we were both ‘Paddies’ guiding the first year students through Freshers’ Week. From then on, we kept bumping into each other, which eventually led to a date.
Rhys added: “Becoming boyfriend and girlfriend just sort of happened, without either of us actually asking.”
If you were to walk around the Reading area, you’d no doubt come across plenty of landmarks which provided a backdrop to Romy and Rhys’ blossoming relationship.
Romy recalled: “Our first date was a pub crawl, starting at the German markets outside The Oracle, followed by Zero Degrees where there was a harpist! We ended the date in a small pub by Reading Station.”
Rhys added: “Other dates included going on bike rides along the river, to the cinema, strawberry picking, ice-skating, and punting in Oxford.”
After graduation the couple took a year out to travel around South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand. But the place which truly holds their hearts is Cornwall – so it was only fitting that Rhys planned to pop the question there.
Rhys explained: “Every year we go to Cornwall in our campervan with our dog – we’ve made so many great memories there. So I decided that Cornwall was definitely the place where I should propose.
“I arranged for a yurt to be put on top of a hill overlooking our favourite beach – Watergate Bay – with a selection of photos of us and our labrador from over the years on display. Despite the gale force winds Romy said yes. Our dog was a bit put out at being involved though!”
The icing on the wedding cake
Fast forward to summer 2024 when Romy and Rhys tied the knot and got the surprise of their life from the University of Reading – a gazebo with their faces on it.
Rhys explained: “During our third year, we were saving up for our year abroad and therefore taking on various bits of work. One of those jobs was a photoshoot on campus with some other students. A couple of years later a friend was at an Open Day and saw our faces on this gazebo.
“To then have it make an appearance at our wedding was the icing on the cake and such a nice surprise!”
Romy said: “The wedding was perfect. It was everything we could have asked for and way more. But we weren’t expecting to see a giant gazebo with our faces on it!”
The surprise was only possible thanks to Romy’s mum who got in touch with the Alumni Team to track down the gazebo. Given how much we love a #UoRLoveStory in the Alumni Team, we were eager to help.
Agnes Gibson, Head of Campaign and Supporter Engagement, explained: “We were able to locate the gazebo and given it had been in storage for a little while, we were only too happy to gift it to Romy and Rhys for their special day. I drove it down to the New Forest where it was put up to surprise them after they had tied the knot.
“This is such a fantastic feel-good story and I was honoured to play a small part in their special day.”
Prioritising happiness
Since graduating Romy and Rhys are both doing well in their careers and have simple but positive goals for their future – to do what makes them happy.
Romy said: “After our year of travelling I joined Carnival UK [P&O Cruises and Cunard] as a finance graduate and am now a qualified accountant. I work as a Finance Business Partner supporting financial decision making to maximise revenue and managing costs on the cruise ships. I’m also part-way through a master’s in Workplace Health and Wellbeing, which is something I am passionate about.
“Rhys worked for the Youth Offending Team, supporting 11-18 year olds who were within the criminal justice system with the aim of preventing reoffending. He now works on the other side of the Criminal Justice System as a Detective Sergeant in the police.”
Rhys added: “Generally speaking, our future plans are to do what makes us happy. We want to enjoy travelling, spending time together, have more dogs, and more trips down to Cornwall!
“We’ll always be grateful to the University of Reading for bringing us together and helping us to start our story.”
Did you meet your partner at the University of Reading? If you’d like to share your #UoRLoveStory with us, email alumni@reading.ac.uk – we’d love to hear from you.
