A couple who honeymooned in Bermuda in 1969 were planning to weather the storm on the island today as they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Stanley and Joyce Rasztawicki, from Maine, have visited about 12 times since the trip that marked the start of their lives together.

The couple were joined by two of their three children for their latest holiday as they enjoyed returning to their favourite spots.

Mrs Rasztawicki, 67, said: “We love Bermuda; this is where our life began.”

She added: “I don’t care if it’s a hurricane or not, we still love it.

“I feel very safe here. I would not feel as safe in the US as I do here.

“I have never experienced a hurricane and if I want to experience one, I would want to do it here in Bermuda.

“To me, it would be exciting. I’m not afraid here in Bermuda.”

The couple married on November 29, 1969, and left for their honeymoon the following day.

Mrs Rasztawicki, a retired bank worker, explained: “My husband actually chose it. I was only 17 and my husband was 23 years old, so he was the one who picked it out and paid for it.

“We came here right after the wedding and we stayed at the Bermudiana in Hamilton.”

The couple welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Jacki, in 1971, followed by son Jason in 1973 and another daughter, Sharon, in 1974.

Mrs Rasztawicki added that she also raised her nephew Eric, now 39, and niece April, 35.

She and her husband, 73, now have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with another on the way.

Mr and Mrs Rasztawicki’s second visit to the island was to celebrate 25 years of marriage and, since then, they have returned “as much as we could”.

They arranged to come before their anniversary this year with the plan to enjoy the island’s warmer weather and have been joined by children Jason and Sharon.

Mrs Rasztawicki said: “We came here early, in September, because it’s cold in November.

“We go to the beach, like we did before, and we go out to dinner. We always go to Dockyard, Hamilton and St George’s.”

She said the pair continued to be “very happy together”.

When asked the secret to a long marriage, Mrs Rasztawicki explained: “We believe in God, God blesses us and so we are living through his blessings.

“We have been blessed many years.”