My farming muddy match proposed on Christmas Day!

Christmas brings comfort and joy for Lisa and her muddy match, farmer Ken – but the pandemic puts paid to wedding plans

Yes, Yes! Yes! With over 50,000 proposals expected to take place over the Christmas period, an ‘excitable yes’ is becoming as familiar a festive sound as carols and the snap of crackers.

In fact, wedding planners believe that 20% of the annual ¼ million proposals happen in a ‘shop window’ between 21 December and New Year’s Eve each year. But when it feels right, it feels right, right?

It certainly felt right for Muddy Matches member Lisa, whose muddy match proposed on Christmas Day 2018 over handreared turkey.

Lisa met livestock farmer Ken whilst online dating with Muddy Matches in June 2016. Her love of outdoor life as an active member of a walking group being one of the main reasons she was initially attracted to the country life dating site.

The pair exchanged a handful of messages before agreeing to meet up in Kenny’s hometown of Thirsk for a first date coffee.

“Kenny’s profile picture was the first one I came across that caught my eye,” Lisa says. “It was his lovely smile.

“After meeting in Thirsk, we saw one another every weekend. I would drive to Kenny’s farm on a Friday evening and stay until Sunday before returning back to Durham for my work.”

That went on as the weekly 100-mile round trip routine for over 20 months before the big question was popped, somewhat casually over turkey and all the trimmings, on Christmas Day.

There was no grand gestures or elaborate displays of affection – typical of a farmer.

“There was no specific proposal of marriage, it was something we had talked about and we just decided then and there that it was time we would get engaged with a view to getting married on 30 May 2020.” Lisa says.

Plans were in action on a grand scale; 100 guests invited for the day, a further 200 pencilled in for the evening, marquee booked for a reception at the farm.

Lisa even moved the 50 miles from her home in Durham to be with Kenny – and his 85-year-old mum – full time on his family farm in Thirsk in March 2020.

Then Coronavirus struck.

“It was handy I’d made the move” Lisa adds. “We were locked down so I just stayed there and didn’t go back to Durham. Lockdown has been fairly easy for us, I would say, due to the fact that we are fairly well isolated here in any event. Not a lot has changed for us other than we do miss our weekends at our local pub; The Gold Cup at Nether Silton.

“We are looking forward to the restrictions being lifted so that we can see our friends and family again.

Love may have continued to bloom in lockdown but national restrictions, followed by the impact of local tiered restrictions have seen the couple’s wedding plans thrown up in the air.

Their big day came and went. Now the pair have their eyes set on a summer wedding next year.

“Fortunately, we have been able to move most of the arrangements one full year ahead to 29 May 2021. At present it is unknown whether the wedding in May 2021 will go ahead as we want it to. However, if we can get married next May, then we will but it may well have to be on a lot smaller scale than we initially hoped.”

And if getting over the hurdle of a global pandemic wasn’t enough, Lisa has another challenge on her hands wedding-wise; convincing farmer Kenny to allocate some time for a honeymoon!

“Kenny is not a holiday type person; he’s not had a holiday since he was 13 and he’s now 54. He doesn’t own a passport and has no intention of getting one, although I may try to persuade him to have some kind of honeymoon next year… even if it is in this country.”

Everyone at Muddy Matches has everything crossed Lisa and Ken can finally tie the knot next year.

After all, the farmer wants a wife!