Wedding dream made a reality for childhood sweethearts

Cheryl Holden and Michael Fernandes

A Castleton couple are celebrating after winning a wedding.

Michael Fernandes, 22, and Cheryl Holden, 24, have been together for almost ten years and said they would never be able to afford to get married. However, thanks to votes from members of the public the couple will wed in three weeks time, courtesy of 106.1 Rock Radio.

The couple, who have been together since school, had their first child when Ms Holden was 16 and Mr Fernandes was just 14 years old.

They now have three children, Liam, 8, Bryan, 3, and Archie, 11 months.

People told the couple that they wouldn’t make it – but they did and until earlier this week the only thing missing from their puzzle was getting married.

The couple found out on Tuesday that they were one of two couples to bag the wedding prize and they will tie the knot on 4 August.

The radio station will provide everything for the wedding, at Manchester Museum, except the dress and the rings.

Mr Fernandes said: “We were both really shocked. We didn’t think we would win – we never win anything, so to win something, especially something this big is great!

“We are both genuinely excited and want to say a big thank you to everyone who voted.

“Apparently the voting was really close and we wouldn’t have got this far without the support from the public.”