A Huyton bus driver who hoped to raise nearly £30,000 to marry his Filipino fiancée has had to postpone the wedding after raising just £20 via GoFundMe.
Paul McHugh, 55, met 25-year-old Bridget Lura on the dating site DatingAsia in August 2025. The pair exchanged messages and video called multiple times a day before McHugh flew over 6,700 miles to the Philippines to meet her in person. They met for the first time at Manila airport in September 2025 and "hit it off immediately," McHugh said.
Proposal in the Philippines
McHugh flew back to the Philippines in December 2025 to meet Bridget's family. "In front of everyone," he got down on one knee and proposed. Back in Huyton, he has been trying to save money for the wedding, with plans for Bridget and her son to move to the UK. On top of saving, McHugh has been paying for Bridget's life in Davao.
To raise funds, McHugh set up a GoFundMe appeal. However, it raised only £20, putting a harsh end to the couple's hopes for a beach wedding in the Philippines in October this year.
Appeal for help
"It all went pear shaped," McHugh said, reluctantly postponing the wedding. While trying not to cry, he added: "It's been a big blow, we're both so gutted to have had to push the wedding back. My other half was hoping to marry me this year, to move our plans on but we're stuck where we are now for the moment."
McHugh has promised to fly to the Philippines in August to see Bridget and her family, but he is struggling to afford the trip after putting everything into the wedding fund. "I've run out of ideas on what to do, I even thought about doing a sponsored skydive but couldn't get enough sponsors; I've tried to get a loan but can't – I'm running out of options. It's put so much stress on me, I'm struggling," he said.
McHugh is asking anyone who can help or has suggestions to reach out.
