Name: Gemma Hollingsworth
Age: 25
Job: hellomagazine.com staff writer
Relationship status: Engaged... finally! And soon to be Mrs Christopher Strong
Time taken to be proposed to: Nine years! Although sometimes it feels longer.
Wedding experience: None, although I went to three last year...
How it all began... In 2000 I was a pupil at the Duke Of York's Royal Military School and Chris was a sixth former, two years above than me. He's the only boy I've ever asked out, and I'm embarrassed to say I did it by text message! An experience I'm thankful I'll never have to repeat! Our first real milestone was four months into the relationship when I introduced the new love of my life to my dad and step mum. It went well, though it did take about 18 months for us to repeat the experience with his parents! Having lost my mum when I was 13, it was incredibly important to me that Chris knew my dad; and bless him he really put up with a lot for the cause. A major in the Royal Artillery, my father was very traditional and had set views on pretty much everything. I adored him; but, bringing home a boy who's had more changes to his hair cut and colour than David Beckham and a grungy Nirvana-esque fashion sense was always going to be a tricky sell. In the end their relationship was characterised by Sunday afternoons spent watching Formula One or football on TV over a beer, or three, accompanied by the sort of light-hearted banter that still allowed my dad to make his feelings known. More than anything I wish my dad was still alive to walk me down the aisle next summer. But he officially gave his blessing to Chris at around the seven year mark - something pretty amazing in itself!