Maria & Arran

It all started in 2009 with a couple of green aprons and the sweet aroma of overpriced coffee. Maria and Arran met while working at Starbucks, back when their biggest problem in life was running out of caramel syrup. Some might call it fate; others might say it was the free staff coffee (Partner Beverages to those in the know) that kept them showing up to their shifts. Either way, that’s where this wild ride began.

From there, it’s been a rollercoaster of gigs, music festivals, and days out with their son Alex. Maria and Arran love their music, and Arran still lives in hope of dragging Maria to see a band nobody has heard of (yet). They’ve laughed until their sides hurt, cried at the odd soppy film, and held each other up through the highs and lows that life throws at you.

Then there’s Madrid—one of their favourite places to escape to. The gluten-free restaurants, the cafes, the sights… and the time Arran perfected the art of asking for “una cerveza y uno vino blanco” in the worst Spanish accent imaginable, and Maria rolled her eyes in the universal language of disapproval.

Fast forward to today, and their greatest adventure is now an energetic whirlwind named Alex. Alex is a little energy bomb who keeps them on their toes, makes them laugh, and occasionally leaves them questioning their life choices (mainly on Sunday mornings). But they wouldn’t have it any other way—he’s the best teammate they could ever ask for.

So here they are, 16 years, countless memories, and one cheeky little boy later, ready to throw a party to celebrate it all with the people they love most.