A couple who returned to Bermuda 25 years after they married on the island are making the most of their trip despite Hurricane Ernesto spoiling some of their plans.

Stephen and Karen McNichol arrived from England last Thursday to celebrate their silver anniversary just before the storm’s arrival the next evening and into Saturday morning.

Their plans had included a visit to The Tasting Room in Smith’s with friends in Bermuda and a boat trip, both of which were cancelled thanks to Ernesto.

Thankfully, the power remained on at Rosemont Guest Suites in Pembroke where they are staying so they were able to ride out the storm in relative comfort.

Mrs McNichol said: “We had special plans interrupted because of the hurricane. We were supposed to go to the Tasting Room with 16 friends.

On the Sunday, we were supposed to go on a boat ride to see all of the famous houses around the island but the boat was pulled out of the water.

“We are finding other things to do — we always try to find a new adventure every time we come.”

Mr McNichol added: “Just being here is enough. It’s more about just seeing everyone.”

Mr McNichol was born in Paget in 1969 and said the island had always held a special place in his heart.

His father, Dennis, worked with the prison service and his mother, Linda, was a nurse here.

The family moved to England when Mr McNichol was 8 and he has returned often for visits in more recent years.

He always makes an effort to visit Pauline Dickinson, his godmother, who is the grandmother of family friend Annette Glasford, who is also a resident.

Mr McNichol’s family eventually moved to Woking, England, where he met his future wife when they worked together in the same medical diagnostics company.

He brought her to Bermuda a year before they married to show her where he was raised and she instantly fell in love with the island.

They married on August 21, 1999 at St James Church in Sandys — the same church where his parents married and another essential stop on the annual itinerary.

Mr McNichol said: “When we visited in 1998, I wanted Karen to check out my roots. She fell in love with it.

“My memories here are being surrounded by beauty. It was the freedom. My parents would take us to Black Bay and let us play in the water. I could swim before I could walk.

"My dad was best friends with [the late] Wilton Dickinson, Pauline’s husband, and there was a big group we all got to know. They all had children so we would play out in Dockyard when it was derelict. We would pick Easter lilies and fly kites.

“I can’t remember our parents being around; we just did our own thing.

“Now, later in life, it feels special to be a Bermudian.”

Mrs McNichol added: “It’s lovely to see Annette, to see our godmother and to see family. It’s a place that is deep in our hearts.”

On their wedding day, the McNichols had about 20 family members from England attend as well as members of Ms Glasford’s family.

“We decided to get married here. We come back to Bermuda every year and we go up to St James Church and take a photo there, just to remember.”

After the ceremony, they had their photos taken at Warwick Long Bay and hired a horse and carriage to take them to historic Waterville house in Paget for the reception.

The pair are here for seven days and their plans included the obligatory visit to St James Church and a celebratory meal at the Harbourfront Restaurant in Pembroke.

Mr McNichol said not much had changed in Bermuda since his childhood.

He said: “It’s a bit of a time capsule. It is a shame to see some of the hotels like Ariel Sands, Elbow Beach Hotel and the Southampton Princess closed.

“They do have the St Regis and it’s nice to see the new airport. You can see the gradual development of the island and can get a sense of the evolution.”

Mr McNichol said his wife had never experienced a hurricane in Bermuda, despite their many visits.

“She can say she is a true Bermudian now,” he added.