Burnley couple renew wedding vows on Cyprus beach for £10

When Liz and Ryan Wilkinson first tied the knot 10 years ago in front of their first born, they never imagined they’d be able to do it all over again in front of their second son during a cost-of-living crisis. 

But this summer, the ecstatic couple were able to have both boys present for a budget-friendly romantic vow renewal by the sea. 

Liz, 35 and Ryan, 38, were the first couple to say, ‘I still do’ in Cyprus for the bargain holiday add-on, thanks to On the Beach’s latest getaway perk. 

The holiday company is giving loved up couples the chance to renew their vows for just under a tenner to guests who stay at the Coral Beach Hotel and Resort in Paphos.

Liz and Ryan’s love story began a decade ago when they first said their "I do's" back in the UK. 

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Determined to mark their 10th wedding anniversary on August 25, they decided to jet off to Cyprus for a romantic ceremony and take full advantage of the newly introduced cut-price service on the sandy shores. 

The picture postcard setting provided the perfect backdrop for their sentimental journey, and one of the most heartwarming bonuses of the renewal was the inclusion of both of their sons, George, aged five, and Oliver, aged 14. 

It was having both their boys present that prompted the couple to go ahead with the momentous occasion. 

“At our first wedding, we had our eldest there; he was only four at the time,” said Liz.

"George, our youngest, has always asked why he wasn't there for our first wedding, and that was the driving force behind us deciding to go for it.

“It felt so fulfilling to have him there for our renewal, and wonderful to involve them both. 

“George had so many questions about what he had to do, and it was adorable to see his curiosity."

The couple emphasised that renewing their vows last month felt different from the first time around. 

“We were more self-assured and excited rather than nervous like the first-time round,” said Liz.

“We're older and wiser now,” she added.

Oliver, who had been a page boy at their initial wedding, is now a more laid-back teenager. 

"He was really chilled about it," Liz said. 

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“This time, it was nice for him to understand the promises we were making as a family, not just as a couple."

The intimate ceremony had a unique charm, says Liz, as there was no pressure of an audience; only the four of them stood together, reaffirming their love for one another. 

"It felt special because we didn't have the spectacle this time round, just the sentiment which was really nice," Liz said.

Back home, Liz’s proud mum even dressed their dog Willow, a two-year-old English springer spaniel, up as a bridesmaid and face-timed the re-newlyweds after the ceremony. 

As with most families across the UK, Liz admits she would have probably thought twice about a wedding renewal in the UK because of costs.

Liz's mum dressed the family dog, Willow, as a bridesmaid and FaceTimed the couple while they were away (Image: On The Beach)

“We’ve been wanting to renew our vows for some time, but with the cost of everything increasing, we never imagined it would be possible,” said Liz.

"With most of the nation feeling the pinch of rising costs, something like a wedding renewal service just wouldn’t have been a priority.

“It was such a beautiful location, and we had time before with the ceremony planner go through what we wanted to say to each other.

“We told her all about our story so she could get to know us and deliver such a personalised service on the day which was incredible,” added Liz. 

“For us, renewing our vows wasn’t just about celebrating a decade of togetherness, but also solidified a bond that unites us as a family.”