THROUGHOUT this year we will be dipping into the wedding albums of Warrington couples who have tied the knot and finding out more about the happiest day of their life.

This happy Old Hall couple first met more than 10 years ago when Rachael Foy, then aged 17, was working at the Olive Press restaurant in Warrington.

But things didn't get off to a dream start when Ben Wilde first laid eyes on her.

Rachael, aged 29, added: "He was attending a party at the restaurant and spent all night trying to get my manager to let me dance with him.

"I left my shift by going out of the back door to avoid him!

"But a few weeks later we bumped into each other at a college party and our romance started from there."

After a short romance Rachael moved away to university but 10 years later the pair bumped into each other again in Costa and their relationship bloomed.

Rachael added: "We always laugh about our initial thoughts on each other as we were so different.

"We had a great connection straight away but Ben thought I was a posh chav and I though he was a hot mosher!

"Ben was very charming and confident and I was always very shy around him."

Warrington Guardian:

Ben originally planned to pop the question during a meal out at Ask restaurant but after collecting the ring he couldn't wait any longer.

Rachael added: "I got home and started cooking tea.

"Ben pretended his knee went so I would turn around.

"When I did he was down on one knee.

"After a period of time only being able to say 'oh my god' I said yes which Ben then suggested that we should really turn the hob off!"

Warrington Guardian:

The love birds tied the knot on May 4 this year at Merrydale Manor and Rachael added seeing Ben at the end of the aisle was a 'feeling which words cannot describe'.

Sixty day guests and 120 in the evening did not go hungry with three big French fancy cakes and small French fancies as favours for the guests.

Warrington Guardian:

Canapés were also served before a leek and potato soup, chicken in a shallot and brandy sauce and raspberry and elderflower Arctic roll for the wedding breakfast and a mix of sausage and bacon butties with chip cones in the evening.

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Rachael added: "The nerves for me kicked in as the flower girls started to walk down the aisle.

"After leaving our guests waiting for what felt like an eternity whilst I composed myself, as soon as I stepped into the door way, holding on to my dad's arm the nerves went away as Ben was stood there beaming at me."

Warrington Guardian:

The day mostly ran without a hitch apart from the happy couple awkwardly having to correct the registrar when they were referred to as 'Rachael and Matthew', banging heads during a dance off and Ben slipping on Rachael's train and falling flat on the dancefloor.

After the wedding the pair jetted off to Jamaica but unfortunately seven days into their marriage Ben lost his wedding ring in the sea while snorkelling.

Warrington Guardian:

Rachael added: "Ben is the most caring person I’ve ever met.

"From day one all he has ever wanted is to make me laugh and see me happy."

Ben added: "Rach has always wanted the best for me. She is intelligent, funny and never fails to make me smile. I’m lucky to have such an attractive best friend.

"We know we may not be perfect but we have built a life together which is already perfect for us and now our life is going to continue to get better the more we grow together in our married life."

Thank you to Melissa Hague Photography (

www.melissahaguephotography.com

) for sharing these photographs with us.

Would you like to tell us about your wedding? If you're a Warrington couple who got married in the past 12 months we would love to hear from you. Please email hannah.bargery@nqnw.co.uk