Steph and Chris’s story began with a missed opportunity. They were introduced at Amber and Jamie’s wedding. However, with the excitement of the day, they never actually got the chance to speak. They exchanged polite smiles but nothing more, leaving their connection undiscovered. Steph returned to Oldham, and Chris went back to London, both unaware that fate had other plans for them.

Then came the pandemic. Life slowed down, and opportunities for meeting up were put on hold. But fate hadn’t forgotten about them. After lockdown, Chris took a new job and moved to Oldham. When Amber and Jamie found out, they wasted no time in reconnecting the pair.

Their first official date was at Costa Coffee, a casual setting where they figured they could catch up and see if their connection was real. But that coffee date lasted much longer than either expected. They talked for hours, and before they knew it, they had decided to extend the day with a movie—The Suicide Squad—and later, dinner at Frangos. By the end of the evening, they both knew something special could happen between them.

Though they quickly felt a connection, both Steph and Chris were fiercely independent, so they didn’t rush things. They took their time to build a solid relationship, enjoying each other’s company while maintaining their individual lives. 

After a year of living together, on June 10th, 2023, Chris proposed to Steph in a way that was both heartfelt and deeply personal. He set up their home with candles, creating a romantic atmosphere inspired by Steph’s two favourite TV proposals—Monica and Chandler’s from Friends and Michael and Holly’s from The Office. It was perfect, and of course, Steph said yes!