Monica and Matt McAllister were almost as excited for their honeymoon as they had been for their wedding.
The couple, who married in Ireland in March, had booked a stunning trip to South Africa, where they were due to go on safari.
The newlyweds were then due to fly for a luxury sunshine beach break to an idyllic resort in Mauritius.
But just after they said 'I do' coronavirus put pay to their romantic plans and Monica and Matt had just returned to their home in Edinburgh, Scotland when the lockdown was introduced.
Undeterred the loved-up couple were determined to make the most of the time they had together - and came up with a truly epic solution for their honeymoon woes.
With three weeks already booked off work, they were determined to make the most of it - especially as their jobs often keep them apart.
Monica is a nurse, so is often working shifts, while Matt is a geologist and spends huge chunks of the year away travelling.
Matt explained: "Instead of being worried about the trip we had just lost, we thought let's make the most of the time and have our honeymoon here - so that's what we did."
Every morning the 31-year-old made his wife breakfast in bed and then made sure they went on a romantic walk.
He said: "We pretended to see African wildlife, ate alfresco outside, got dressed up, and had candlelit dinners. We even got sunburnt in our garden, just like we would have done on our honeymoon."
Even the lockdown couldn't ruin their fun with 31-year-old Matt making sure they went on strolls to the stunning Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, which is close to where they live.
Matt said: "When we saw a deer in Hunter's Bog we pretended it was an antelope, and when we saw birds we messed about pretending they were lesser spotted whatevers... it was fun.
"We played cards outside in our garden with a cold beer and glass of wine, just as we would have done on our trip.
"We focussed on each other and reminisced about our wedding."
Monica grew up in Kilkenny in south east Ireland, so the couple decided that's where they wanted to marry.
Scot Matt was born in Dunfermline before his family moved to Dumfries and Galloway.
And, by lucky chance, just before Monica and Matt got married, he had tried a Vietnamese cooking course, which meant he could rustle up gourmet meals, just like those they would have had in their lavish honeymoon hotels.
He said: "We upped our game and cooked nice meals for each other and tried to make them as presentable as possible, as if the meals were at our hotel on the trip."
They celebrated every night with bubbles - to make it seem even more special for three weeks.
The only disaster came when Matt tried to make sangria but used out-of-date lemonade - a definite no, no according to the new groom.
And while their at home honeymoon wasn't what Monica and Matt had been planning - he says he wouldn't have changed a thing.
Matt explained: "It was certainly unusual but it was so great to spend time together. It was a nice opportunity to spend time as newlyweds as we were both off work.
"It just shows you don't have to go away to connect with each other. We were holed up in our own little retreat, it was very romantic.
"We were together just like we would have been on our honeymoon trip."
