An American couple working in the Middle East flew over 10,000 miles to marry in Bermuda last weekend.

Ron and Paula Echols Chaney, both 47, were married at Astwood Cove last weekend with 30 of their closest friends and family in attendance.

They met while both working in Iraq, although Mr. Chaney now lives and works in Oman, Jordan.

When Mrs. Chaney first went to Iraq to work for a military life support service company as an accountant, it was the last place she ever expected to find love. For Ron Chaney, who also worked for the company, it was the same.

"He first saw me in Babylon, but we didn't meet until we were stationed in Diwaniyah," said Mrs. Chaney shortly before the wedding date. "He saw me in November, but we didn't really meet until January because he couldn't find me. I didn't socialise and I didn't even go to the cafeteria. Then he saw me one day in the cafeteria with a friend that we both knew, and the friend introduced us."

According to Mr. Chaney they met "under false pretences".

"I told her I was never ever going to get married again and she said she wasn't looking to date anyone. That was our situation when we first met."

Mrs. Chaney is now living in Baghdad, Iraq on a military base. She said it isn't as bad as everyone thinks, although she came to Bermuda with a hacking cough caused by breathing in desert sand on a regular basis.

"I live in the green zone," she said. "What you all see on television is in the red zone. There are people who live in the red zone, but I live in a secure base because I support the military. I guess I would say it is not scary because I am at peace with it, but you are in a war zone and things do happen. I have been in situations. I have never been in the military. I am just an accountant."

The new Mr. & Mrs. Chaney are from Houston, Texas, although Mrs. Chaney is originally from Memphis, Tennessee. In Jordan, Mr. Chaney, works for a company that provides translators and other humanitarian military support to operations in Iraq and Lebanon. The couple hope to eventually settle in Houston, but for now they will continue living in their separate countries.

"It's not so bad," said Mr. Chaney. "Oman is only five hours away from where she is."

They were encouraged to come to Bermuda on their honeymoon through Mrs. Chaney's friend, Marshalle Smith, senior business development manager for the Department of Tourism, based in Florida..

"Paula and I are very good friends," Miss Smith said. "Every year we travel together with 12 women. When Paula and Ron were talking about getting married, and about how they found the love of their lives in a war zone, I convinced them to get married in Bermuda."

Although Mrs. Chaney might have been drawn by the pretty scenery in Bermuda, Mr. Chaney said the main attraction for him was the golf.

"I wanted to come here for the Bermuda Charity Golf Fest," said Mr. Chaney. "I think the Charity Golf Fest is a great event. I was going to come here anyway because I wanted to participate in the Bermuda Charity Golf Fest. Then we were going back and forth because we didn't know where we wanted to get married."

Miss Smith suggested they get married in Bermuda, and they agreed that it was a great idea.

"This is my first trip to the Island and it has been a wonderful trip thus far and I am very thankful that Marshalle suggested we get married here," said Mrs. Chaney.

Mr. Chaney said the setting in Bermuda will make an already memorable event in his life even more so.

The entire wedding from dress to flowers was planned through the Internet and the telephone. Guests wore cream and white.

"I am looking forward to coming back next year for the Charity Golf Fest and celebrating our anniversary," said Mr. Chaney.