One of the first couples to move into the brand new Rufford Pastures development built by Woodhead Homes in Edwinstowe, have had a year that’s mirrored the royal couple, and they’re even called Harry and Megan!
The couple, who jointly run Nottingham-based dance and performing arts academy, Copper Studios, started 2018 with no idea of what was to come. It was Harry’s entry to a national competition that changed everything. The competition offered its winners an all-expenses paid wedding, worthy of the royal couple themselves, all he had to do was write a short piece on why they were worthy winners.
“I didn’t write much really, I just spoke about us as a couple and how we work together and had been together for five years, and that was pretty much it. I didn’t expect to win! When I found out I’d won, I couldn’t believe it, now I had to actually propose,” said Harry.
“I didn’t tell Megan, I wanted to surprise her with everything. So I waited for our five year anniversary and set up a number of slate plaques around some woodland near our old house, where we used to walk. Each plaque had a significant date on it that would mean something to her. At the end of the plaques I got down on one knee and proposed. It was then I also told her about the wedding, and the fact we had around eight weeks before the big day!”
Megan, 22, added: “Everything was done for us apart from the dress, suits and cake, and we had 150 guests for the day. The hotel was beautiful, it was just amazing.”
Harry and Megan were married at the Sheraton Grand on Park Lane in London on 4th May, beating the royal couple to it! They spent the weeks surrounding the wedding in a media storm, with their story being broadcast worldwide, even featuring on Indian, Spanish, American and Canadian news channels.
After such a crazy few weeks earlier in the year, Harry and Megan got back to normal for the summer, running their dance studio in Basford in Nottingham, and getting back to their search to become homeowners for the first time.
The summer also saw the pair welcome a new arrival – Murphy, the cockapoo puppy!
Harry, 23, added: “Murphy’s the furthest we’ll be going in terms of a new arrival for a while. Because the wedding was organised so quickly, everyone asked if we were pregnant, and now Harry and Meghan are expecting, I think people expect us to follow suit – but that’s definitely not happening yet for us!”
The search for a new home had been going on for some time. The pair both wanted to live in a new-build home, but they just couldn’t find anything they really liked.
“I’d got so fed up of looking at new homes, that when Harry first saw these houses pop up on Right Move, I refused to go with him. But he was so excited when he came home from Rufford Pastures, he knew I’d love them, so we went back and I was convinced straight away,” Megan said.
“They are so unique, some of the different features are just so different to everywhere else, and the show home is just unbelievable.”
The couple moved in to their three bed, semi-detached town house in October. The design they have chosen is known as the Shore and is built over three floors, with an impressive master bedroom on the top floor. The perfect home for a family to thrive in, the property offers an abundance of space and light, with a distinctive modern design, set in beautiful countryside, on the edge of the popular village of Edwinstowe.
Harry added: “We absolutely love this house, and Woodhead Homes have been fantastic, checking that every last detail is perfect. We were so surprised at what you get for your money here, it’s so much better than any of the other homes we’ve seen, we’re so happy. We also benefited from the Help to Buy scheme, which made such a difference to us.
“We wanted the house to work for the dog, but also be sleek and modern, and work for our tastes, and it’s just done it for us both. There’s lots of places to walk him around here, and we both love the village.”
Megan concluded: “We’re really happy with the house, and so glad we made that decision this summer. We can’t wait for our first Christmas in our new home, it’s going to be perfect.”
For further information on The Shore, the Rufford Pastures development and all other house types, please visit the website: https://woodhead-homes.co.uk/developments/rufford-pastures/