By Emma Morley

Published at 21:19, Wednesday, 02 February 2011

Claire Robinson is excited to be getting married over the long Bank Holiday weekend of the royal wedding.

Spring do for Claire Robinson and Paul McAteer

Claire will marry Paul McAteer on April 30 at St Leonard’s Church, Cleator and she says that she was thrilled when she heard the date of William and Kate’s big day.

“I’m a bit of a secret royalist,” she admits. “I like any big occasion that allows the country to come together.

“My mum loves the royal family and talks about how she remembers watching Prince Charles and Diana’s wedding.

“I wasn’t too worried when I heard William and Kate had announced they were engaged.

“When they announced the date my mum heard first and rang me to say I had competition.

“My first reaction was that it would steal my thunder but when I thought about it I realised it wouldn’t.

“If their wedding was on the same day as mine and my guests wanted to watch it then I would think I was sharing it with them though.”

Claire, originally from Cleator Moor, met Paul through work when Claire started a job as a support worker for Autism Initiatives in Liverpool.

They now live together in Liverpool and it was in April 2009 that Paul, who is originally from the city, proposed when he took Claire to Crosby beach, the place they have first spoken as they were taking clients to the beach at work.

A week later Claire returned to Cumbria to tell mum Susan and as she wanted her to see her in the first wedding dress she tried on, they went to look at dresses.

“I saw a dress that I loved and we bought it,” she laughs. “We hadn’t even set a date for the wedding at that point.

“We said we would wait as I wanted to get married in April because it’s the month of my birthday and it’s my favourite month and we wanted time to save up.”

Following the ceremony at St Leonard’s Church the couple will hold their reception at the Ennerdale Country House Hotel and both locations hold a special place in their hearts.

“It’s the church I went to until I was 18 and went away to university,” says Claire, 23. “The first time I brought Paul to Cumbria he stayed at the hotel. It’s just down the road from my mum’s house.

“Our families are coming together in such a special place. I can’t wait to show Paul’s family my beautiful corner of the world.”

There’ll be 120 guests and Claire says one advantage to the wedding Bank Holiday is that guests will be able to travel on the Friday.

“The majority of Paul’s family and friends will be travelling and so having that extra day will make it more relaxed,” she says. “Everyone is happy.

“The royal wedding is actually a good thing for us and makes it more special.

“It adds an extra day to the celebration.

“I will always remember that it was my wedding on the same weekend as theirs.”

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to avoid catching a glimpse of the royal couple.

“I think my mum will make sure I watch it on the TV,” says Claire.

“I think it will get me more excited for my own wedding.

Anyway, Claire revealed she would be “watching to see what Kate looks like.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk