In an unusual turn of events, Jack and Emma locked eyes when they were front row rocking out at a Metallica concert and a romance blossomed.
Little did they know, while head-banging to Master of Puppets, arguably Metallica’s most iconic song, they would be standing next to their future spouse.
Both lifelong metal fans, the couple had separately spent their teenage years immersed in music. Jack attended his first gig in Nottingham in 2002, and Emma, growing up in Mexico, went to her first concert that same year.
However, it was the heavy metal band Metallica that eventually brought the two together, miles away from home. In 2019, the 35-year-old secured tickets to see the band in Prague with a group of his friends, which happened to be the same gig Emma was attending.
By sheer luck, they both secured tickets for the European show, despite neither of them even living there. Luck was on their side even more that day when they separately managed to get into the Snake Pit, a coveted section at the front of the stage, surrounded by the band.
Jack recalled the first time he saw Emma, saying: “The energy was unreal, everyone was just locked in, loving every moment. The crowd was wild, the riffs were huge, and we just locked eyes and rocked out together for a moment.”
Locking eyes in the mosh pit was a fleeting moment as the two got scooped up into the chaos of the crowd. At this point, Jack had seen Metallica 22 times, but for Emma, it was her third.
As fans spilt out of the venue, he spotted Emma standing alone. “I figured there was no chance she’d even speak English,” he admitted.
“But I went over anyway, and as soon as we heard each other’s accents, we got talking. Turns out, we both lived near London.”
Before parting ways, Jack asked for Emma’s number, and the next morning, scrolling on his phone, he spotted a photo Metallica had posted of the crowd. Right there in the photo was Emma. He sent it to her, and the two stayed in touch.
Back home in London, the pair began going to gigs together and formed a special bond over music. It was in 2021 that the two, once strangers, tied the knot.
Now, live music is as much a part of their relationship and lives as it was before they even met. The couple has since gone on to see Metallica together at least 26 times, admitting: “We’ve lost count.”
It doesn’t stop at Metallica for them, they make a point of seeing as many live bands as possible and build their lives around their gig calendar.
“For us, it’s more than just seeing bands, it’s about the experience, the energy, and the people you meet,” Emma shared.
For singletons hoping for a romance like Emma and Jack’s, leading wedding expert and editor of Hitched.co.uk, Zoe Burke, shares her advice for finding love.
Zoe said: “So, if you’re looking for a love like Jack and Emma’s, and not finding it on the apps or in your workplace – and your friends have already tried to set you up with the best person they know – it could be time to widen your horizons and try some new hobbies!
“For introverts, there’s been a huge influx of book clubs and mindfulness classes, pottery and painting workshops.” Zoe also recommended “singles-only events” so you don’t feel like an odd one out surrounded by couples.
“Community gardens or allotments are also a really cute way to meet people – even if the average age of those is slightly older, just expanding your friendship groups opens up opportunities for meeting new people your own age,” said Zoe.
