Internet romance leads to altar

Maria Padar and Klaus War met online in 2001 and finally tied the knot in Bundaberg on Saturday.

Darryn Smith

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• Finding love (or lust) online

WHEN Klaus War logged on to an internet friendship site in 2001, he never expected to find his future wife.

But find her he did.

They were on separate continents and had more than 20 years in age difference, but he knew Maria Padar was the one.

The couple was married in Bundaberg on Saturday after almost 10 years of electronic cross-continent dating.

In 2001 Mr War, a former resident of Hungary, was encouraged by friends to join Bulinet, a website that promotes friendship and dating.

He was drawn to a user nicknamed Lighthouse, who turned out to be Hungarian medical student Maria Padar.

“After being away from Hungary for so long, I was really wanting some contact with it,” Mr War said.

“I had made quite a few good friends online, including Maria.”

Mr War said he made a shortlist of people he wanted to meet on his trip to Hungary in 2002.

“I always knew Maria would be my number one,” he said.

“I always knew she was someone very special.”

The pair was engaged later that year when Mr War proposed near his home town on a second visit to Hungary.

“It was just incredible the happiness we both felt,” he said.

The pair continued to build a relationship online while Maria finished her medical studies.

She joined Mr War in Bundaberg in September last year, leaving her life in Hungary behind.

“It was a very big decision for me to give up my practice and leave my country, family and friends behind,” she said.

“I never thought I would meet with someone on the internet, but as time passed, I realised this was more than simple friendship.”

The pair was married in a ceremony at Fairymead House on Saturday.

“It had been a long time to get here but it was meant to be,” Mr War said.

Mr and Mrs War hope to have a second ceremony in Hungary with their family, but said it would be hard to beat the Bundaberg service.

“Everyone who helped us was just wonderful, from the flowers to the reception, the bridal boutique, chef and hairdresser,” Maria said.