'Love always wins': Blackpool couple who met as five-year-olds beat lockdown by hours to finally marry

Two lovebirds who waited 10 years to tie the knot had their wedding plans shattered twice due to coronavirus. But third time was the charm for Tina Child and Michael Langstreth...
Michael and TinaMichael and Tina
Michael and Tina

The couple tied the knot just in the nick of time yesterday after hastily rescheduling their small ceremony at the Wedding Chapel on Blackpool Promenade, becoming one of the last couples in town to marry before new lockdown restrictions put a stop to wedding celeberations.

Tina, 36, said: “Love always wins. Even a global pandemic can’t stop this wedding. It’s been a long time coming, but we have finally got here.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tina and Michael, 37, met when they were just five-years-old through their dads, Steve and David, who were best friends.

Tragically, Tina’s dad Steve died of a brain hemorrhage in 1997, and she and Michael lost touch after that.

They reunited through mutual friends and social media in 2010.

It was “love at first sight” and after just three months together they got engaged – though it took another 10 years for them to finally arrange a sun-soaked wedding at a Turkish holiday resort.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But in March, two months before they were supposed to fly out, Britain went into coronavirus lockdown and their trip was cancelled.

They rearranged their plans, but it quickly became clear that it could not be guaranteed that they would be able to travel freely, and so they decided to marry in their home town instead.

Their small ceremony was attended by nine friends and family members including their children, Makenzie, Jacob, and Amari-Lilly.

Tina, of Fredora Avenue, said: “We have such a happy family unit and as sad as it is that my dad can’t walk me down the aisle and we can’t have many guests, we can always have a big celebration when it’s safe to do so.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s going to come as a big surprise to a lot of people. There’s only a handful of people who know. We did a surprise door-stop for my nana, who’s 86, on the way to the chapel because I knew I would really regret it if she didn’t see me in my wedding dress.

“We are making the very best of a bad situation and it doesn’t feel like any less of a special day. This is the last wedding in Blackpool before lockdown and we don’t know if it’s going to be lifted in December.

“Michael is brilliant, gentle, calm, laid-back and loving. He shows me every single day how much I mean to him and how much he loves me. I couldn’t be marrying anybody more perfect."

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.