The owner of Seaside Travel said she was “thrilled” when her partner proposed in front of 350 delegates at the annual Jet2holidays conference.
Nicola Park and fiancé Barry Coatman got engaged on stage during an awards ceremony at the 3HB Guarana in Olhos de Água, Portugal on November 15.
Park was on stage collecting an award when Coatman picked up a microphone, got down on one knee and asked her to be his wife – to the eruption of applause from the audience.
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The pair have been together for 14 years and met when Coatman began driving buses for Seaside Travel and “wooed” Park on their first date in Durham.
Between them, they have three children, Michael, Holly Ann and Matthew, and two dogs, Peaches and Pebbles.
“I can’t believe this is happening”, said Park. “I have really wanted to get married but Barry has been really anti-marriage so I didn’t think it would happen.
“I have found my perfect person in Barry, he is the most perfect person in my life. Every day I wake up with him and I know he’s going to make me laugh.
“We are Mr and Mrs Seaside and I won’t go anywhere without him. They say life is made for experiences and I don’t want to experience anything without him.”
Coatman was unprepared for the proposal – which he said he intended on doing in three years time – so he borrowed a ring from head of trade Alan Cross.
Coatman said: “I wasn’t planning on doing that tonight, I was intending to do it in 2025.
“I spoke to Alan and (trade sales general manager) Lloyd Cross before the ceremony and we agreed that if Seaside Travel was to win an award then I would propose and it happened. I am so happy.”
Owner of the hotel Jose Brazao promised the couple they could return for a free honeymoon.