Christine says…

How did you meet?

Francesco and I met in 2009, we both attended sixth form at De La Salle. I considered Francesco to be one of the ‘cool’ ones as he was a bit of a rebel but also friends with everyone. I never imagined we’d end up going out – although we had common friends, we were never more than friends.

What are his best characteristics?

He’s a very respectful guy – we’re both hard headed and argue quite a bit, but in the end, I know he’ll do anything to see me happy.

Who is the more romantic of the two?

Me, without any doubt. In fact, Francesco tells me that I watch too many romantic films.

What’s the best surprise Francesco ever planned for you?

He once planned a surprise birthday dinner with friends and family, which I appreciated tremendously because it’s very difficult to keep things a secret from me.

You have a daughter, Nina. Who picked the name?

I’m a teacher and know how difficult it is for children to write when they’re young, so I wanted a name which was short and simple. At the same time, Francesco wanted an Italian name. I came across the name Nina on Facebook one time and liked it straight away, and Francesco had no objection to it. We actually thought we were having a boy, and were planning to name him Luca.

You’re getting married this year. What are you looking forward to most about married life?

Our relationship as such won’t change – our love for each other shouldn’t increase or decrease simply because we’ll be married. We’ll definitely need to get used to handling new responsibilities, such as house chores, and keeping up with our hectic lives as we can barely keep up as it is!

Francesco says…

What was your first impression of Christine?

The first time I met her was around nine years ago at sixth form, but although we were under the same roof every day for two years, we barely crossed paths. My first impression of her, which I never expected, was that she’s a shy person, which is not how she is in front of a camera. But years later, our paths did cross, and within a few months of meeting again, our relationship began. This was a little less than five years ago.

How did you propose?

I knew it was the right time in our relationship to make the move. The proposal itself was quite simple and fuss-free, but full of emotion as it’s not the easiest move to make. I’m not one for grand romantic gestures – I proposed to Christine at her house, and we all know what her answer was.

You’re also a father to daughter Nina. What can you say about your role as a father?

To be a father and be responsible for another life changes your own life upside down, obviously for the better, and the love you feel for your child is simply indescribable. As parents, we do our best to make sure that Nina has all she needs and to see her with a smile on her face.