The wedding of Amelia Tyrrell and Matthew Ball on 23rd April 2022
Amelia
Born in Palmerston North, NZ but raised in Glasgow and Walsall, UK, Amelia spent a lot of her early life moving around. Since 2017 she has been back in New Zealand where she has met friends and made memories that she will cherish for the rest of her life. Amelia loves being creative, organising and spending time with her friends, if you need someone to sort your email inbox, she’s your girl!
Matt
Unlike Amelia, Matt has not moved around and has always called Rugeley, UK home. Matt is very involved in his local church, Rugeley Community Church as a director, preacher and all-round tech guy. He loves his books and his gadgets and, if he’s not reading about theology, you will probably find him sim racing or sitting at his computer being creative.
Our Story
July 2016, Matt was sat at a table in Victory Church, Rugeley, waiting for his first Victory Young Leaders group to start when in walked Amelia. Neither of them knew it but this first meeting would be the start of a new chapter in their lives, a chapter in which both of their lives would be permanently changed. Each time Young Leaders met, they would get to know each other a bit better. But after nearly a whole year, one small event would kick their friendship to a new level.
Skittles
At Victory Young leaders, paired together and challenged to separate all 5 colours of Skittles as fast as possible, Amelia and Matt jumped into action calmly sorting the colours long before the other pairs. This small challenge gave them a new appreciation for each other.
Soul Survivor 2017
Putting up tents in the rain on the first night, they got chatting and realised how much they enjoyed each other’s company. They spent a lot of time together that week getting to know each other and the conversation that started that evening in the rain is still going on today.
New Zealand 2019
Matt asked Amelia to be his girlfriend on 2nd April 2018, but she had moved back to New Zealand. They wouldn’t get to spend any time together in person until he visited her in December 2019. What followed was the best 3 weeks of their lives so far.
She Said Yes!
On the 11th January 2021, Matt put the ring box in his pocket and encouraged Amelia to come for a walk on Cannock Chase. Reaching the stepping stones, Matt made sure to go first, half way across the stream he stopped with Amelia behind him, turned round and dropped to one knee.