3 couples who found love on a career break

Most holiday romances fade quicker than a sun tan – but the career break industry is seeing more and more reports of people who’ve not only fallen in love, but are getting married!

So what is it about career breaks that leads to long-lasting love? Career breaks are usually much longer than a normal holiday, with a typical career break lasting several months. Adult gappers tend to be involved in doing something as a group, such as a training course, volunteer project or work – and this type of environment is perfect for romance to blossom.

Rachel Morgan-Trimmer, founder of www.thecareerbreaksite.com says, “When you’re away from home for a long time, you tend to form bonds with the people you’re living, working and training alongside. You also know that you’ve got something in common with your fellow gappers – beyond just a love of the local brew!”

Ian Birbeck, Recruitment Director at Projects Abroad (www.projects-abroad.co.uk) says he’s seen an increase in the number of people getting married after meeting through volunteering overseas, because of the growth in career breaks. He says, “At least thirty Projects Abroad weddings have happened, to my knowledge, although I am sure the exact figure is even greater.”

Here are 4 couples who found love on their career break.

Ben and Bryony

Ben Seabrook, 28, from Surrey, went to Australia on a working holiday with Real Gap (www.realgap.co.uk). On the flight to Sydney, he met Bryony Lidstone-Scott, 24, from Dereham, who had signed up for the same experience. They’re now engaged and will be getting married this September.

Ben and Bryony at Urulu, Australia

Daniel and Abelle

Daniel Scott, 28, from Liverpool, went to the Philippines on a mini career break with Kaya Responsible Travel (www.kayavolunteer.com). He volunteered in a community centre, helping to feed malnourished children. It was here he met fellow volunteer, Abelle, a Filipino project manager who helped in the centre in her spare time. They kept in touch after Daniel’s placement ended, and several months later, Kaya offered Daniel a job as a placement advisor. He was given the choice of several project locations, but of course, he headed straight back to the Philippines, and to Abelle. They are now married, and have recently had a baby, Sancha.

Danny says: “That career break changed my life from every angle possible. New family, great job and a new life!”

Daniel, Abelle and baby Sancha

Alice and Jared

In 2003, Alice Del’Occa, 26, from Worcestershire, went to Moholoholo in South Africa with African Conservation Experience (www.conservationafrica.net). She volunteered in a rehabilitation centre for animals, and loved it so much, she returned the following year. That was the year she met Jared.

Their brief relationship looked like it was going the way of most holiday romances, with a break-up when Alice returned to the UK. However, she made two more visits Africa the following year, and, on the second of these, she rekindled her relationship with Jared. She returned to the UK to finish her degree, but dashed back to Africa as soon as she could, even missing her graduation day, much to her parents’ disgust! Jared soon proposed, they got married at the centre (accompanied by a cheetah!) and the two of them are still working there.

Alice say, “We have many tales we could tell of our first year of marriage – like sharing our bed with a tiny squirrel, night feeds for my baby bushbaby and defending our pipes against very determined porcupines! We had many rollercoasters along the way but I’m so lucky my story has such a happy ending.”

Alice, Jared, and the cheetah, at their wedding

Alice and Jared