A new bride revealed how she went from single to married in a matter of months after her husband flew 4,000 miles for their first date, even taking her engagement ring shopping.
After the professionals matched on a dating site, Adam Deathe, 42, told Heather Carter Deathe, 39, he would love to take her for dinner, despite him living in Durham, UK, and her residing across the pond in Atlanta, Georgia.
Flying halfway across the world for their first date in Atlanta in January 2017, Adam remembered a ring that investment executive Heather had liked and later bought it, before proposing and marrying her on the Greek island of Kefalonia in August 2017 – just nine months after they first spoke.
Now having navigated a transatlantic move to be together, Heather, mother to 19-year-old Sophie, has finally moved to the UK after months of waiting in Atlanta for her visa to be approved, joining Adam, father to Louis, 16 and Toby, 12.
Adam Deathe, a 42-year-old professional from Durham, met Heather Carter Deathe, 39, from Atlanta online, and flew 4,000 miles for their first date in the USA, taking her ring shopping
Speaking about her exciting new chapter, she said: ‘I can’t wait to start my life in England. We’ve never had the chance to live as a couple for more than a week or so at a time, but I know Adam is the best person to share my life with.
‘We’re perfectly suited. My weaknesses are his strengths.’
Heather joined dating site eharmony in November 2016, after being single for about nine months.
Then, a mere 24 hours after signing up, she received a match – Adam, who has two sons from a previous relationship and works for Durham BID, helping to support local businesses.
Adam remembered a ring which investment executive Heather had liked and later bought it, before proposing and marrying her on the Greek island of Kefalonia in August 2017 – just nine months after they first spoke.
‘The site said we had a 100 per cent compatibility rate,’ said Heather, a mum to student Sophie from a previous relationship.
‘I noticed he was from the UK, but although I knew how far away that was, I figured I may as well see what he was all about.’
After exchanging messages, the couple moved to texting before, around a week later, sharing their first phone call, after which, chatting for hours, Heather ran up a $250 bill (£175).
Now having navigated a transatlantic move to be together, Heather, who has finally moved to the UK after months of waiting in Atlanta for her visa to be approved (seen on their wedding day with Adam’s sons Toby, 16, and Louis, 12, and Heather’s daughter Sophie, 19)
Heather joined dating site eharmony in November 2016, after being single for about nine months and matched with Adam 24 hours later
‘From then on, we used WhatsApp as it’s free,’ she laughed. ‘The day after the call, I went in to work to see Adam had sent me 36 roses.
‘We spoke every day from then on.’
In January 2017, two months after their first phone call, Heather and Adam finally met in person, with him flying more than 4,000 miles to see her.
Over the course of a weekend, they explored Atlanta together, even checking out engagement rings.
Adam, has two sons from a previous relationship and works for Durham BID, helping to support local businesses, while Heather has a daughter- but their distance didn’t stop them meeting
Heather added: ‘Meeting for the first time was a lot of pressure. I didn’t want it to fall flat on its face when there was such a spark there.
‘Adam was sold right away and, although I was more cautious, by the end of the weekend, I was too.’
Romantic Adam even secretly phoned the jeweller where they had spotted a ring together when he returned to the UK, and bought it at the end of January.
Keeping his purchase secret for weeks, in March 2017, after Heather had been joking around about marriage, he finally confessed over the phone.
After their first date romantic Adam secretly phoned the jeweller where they had spotted a ring together, when he returned to the UK, and bought it at the end of January
After that, Heather and Adam saw each other every four to six weeks, taking it in turns to fly across the Atlantic
She continued: ‘We were goofing about. Adam was telling me how much he liked me and I said, “Where’s the ring then? You trying to get out of the M word?”
‘And he said, “Well actually, I have a ring.”
‘I didn’t need a big story, with him down on one knee. I just wanted to marry him, so to me, that was the perfect way to ask.’
After that, Heather and Adam saw each other every four to six weeks, taking it in turns to fly across the Atlantic.
Keeping his purchase secret for weeks, in March 2017, after Heather had been joking around about marriage, he finally confessed over the phone he had a ring and proposed
After marrying nine months after they met, on 23 May 2018 she arrived in Durham, after sending her dogs over the pond ahead of her move
Then, in August 2017, they decided to blend their families together for the first time and go on holiday to Greece as a group of five.
There, in front of their respective children, they tied the knot.
But then, despite being husband and wife, they had to remain thousands of miles apart – with Heather living in an Air B&B as she’d sold her house – while they waited for her spousal visa to be approved.
On 23 May she arrived in Durham, after sending her dogs over the pond ahead of her move.
Despite being husband and wife, they had to remain thousands of miles apart – with Heather living in an Air B&B as she’d sold her house – while they waited for her visa to be approved
‘I decided that, as Sophie’s grown up and living 16 hours away at university, it’d make more sense for me to move,’ she said. ‘Sophie loves Adam, too, so she was very supportive. He always sends her care packages at university.
‘She’s going to be studying at the London School of Economics this summer anyway, so I will see her then.’
Paying thanks to the site that bought the newlyweds together, Heather said that, while her love story is unconventional, she would not change it for the world.
‘Adam is genuinely the kindest person I’ve ever met,’ she beamed. ‘He’s always three steps ahead and knows exactly what I need.
‘I’ve never had somebody love me so perfectly.’
The couple explored both side of the Atlantic during their adventurous dates
Speaking of the unique intricacies of a long-distance relationship, Adam recalled how he used to stay up all night, talking to Heather
Speaking of the unique intricacies of a long-distance relationship, Adam recalled how he used to stay up all night, talking to Heather.
He admitted: ‘I really did feel like a teenager again, getting excited every time my phone went off.
‘When I first read her profile there was just something about her.
‘I was almost nervous to message her, because I knew I’d be crushed if she ignored me. At the end of the day, she didn’t know me from Adam, if you’ll excuse the pun.
Paying thanks to the site that bought the newlyweds together, Heather said that, while her love story is unconventional, she would not change it for the world
‘I knew from the moment I saw her that I wanted to marry her,’ Adam recalled
‘She was stunningly beautiful, but as cheesy as it sounds, it was more than that. What she wrote and the pictures she posted showed how witty and intelligent she is.’
And when they met in the flesh, Adam said it was love at first sight.
‘I knew from the moment I saw her that I wanted to marry her,’ he recalled.
‘Something about Heather’s presence makes me feel so comfortable. I really do think I’ve met my best friend. I can’t imagine a world without her.’
For information, visit www.eharmony.co.uk
When they met in the flesh, Adam said it was love at first sight (seen on their wedding day in August 2017)
‘Something about Heather’s presence makes me feel so comfortable. I really do think I’ve met my best friend. I can’t imagine a world without her,’ Adam added