Childhood sweethearts have 'fairytale' wedding 50 years on

Ann and Steve Armstrong, from Paddington, first locked eyes in school and love began to blossom.

Originally from Salford, the couple, aged 17 at the time, decided to marry and said their vows at Salford Register Office.

Ann, 67, was pregnant at the time and was told by her mum to wear a blue dress for the wedding – far from the beautiful white gown she had always dreamed of.

This, along with the absence of a three-tier wedding cake, made for a story Ann would tell her children, friends and family for decades on of the fairytale wedding she had dreamt of but never had.

Ann and Steve on their wedding day (Image: Supplied)
Little did she know last year, as she boarded a cruise with husband Steve, 67, and their friends, that her dream day was somewhere in sight.

Telling the Warrington Guardian of the couple's unmatched love story, family friend Kelly Richardson said: “They were 17 when they first married and rara, as we call her, has always spoken about the fact she had to wear ‘that bloody blue dress’.

“She has always wanted to wear the big white wedding dress. She only had a square cake at their wedding all those years ago and she always said how she wanted a three-tier cake as well.

“She has spoken about it for so long and they are so in love, they are best friends, it’s like a fairytale.

Ann and Steve on their wedding day (Image: Supplied)
“Last year, they were on a cruise with friends and Steve got down on one knee and proposed again, because he wanted to give her the white wedding she had dreamt of.”

Kelly continued to explain how Steve prepared a photo album with pictures of memories that they had shared throughout their life to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

On the back page of the album read a message from one of her five grandchildren, saying: “Rara, it’s your turn now to be a princess and let granddad give you the wedding you have always wanted.”

Of course, Ann said yes, and 12 months of wedding planning commenced, bringing them to their special day which took place last Friday (August 16) at St Elphin’s Church, in Howley.

Ann and friends on her cowgirl-themed hen do (Image: Supplied)
 Ann was joined by her four bridesmaids, her daughter Vicky, daughter-in-law Lisa, and her two granddaughters, Jessica and Hollie.

And in a special moment, walking down the aisle in her dream white wedding dress, she was joined by her son Lee who offered his arm to give her away.

“It was a traditional white wedding, everyone dressed up, there was confetti and a photographer,” Kelly said.

“It was such a special moment. She had a smile on her face from the morning until she went to bed, she was beaming.

“She was so happy he could give that day to her. There was not a dry eye in sight in the church.”

The couple had their very own fairytale wedding (Image: Supplied)
The wedding reception took place at Statham Lodge and speeches were made to a crowd of their nearest and dearest friends and family.

During Steve’s speech, he brought out the blue wedding dress as a reminder of where it all started, Kelly told.

The couple were described as being the perfect role models to their children of a what a long and happy relationship looks like.

“The love they have is unconditional. Their son and daughter can look up to them as what true love really is.”