by Fran @ Hitched It has taken more than 40 years but a couple who were in love as teenagers have finally tied the knot.

Christine Orchard and Chester Locke were split apart after Orchard's parents discovered she was pregnant at 16 years old.

They forbade their daughter from seeing Locke, who was 24 at the time, and the pair lost touch and married other people.

But when their daughter Tracey decided to find her biological father, the two love-birds were finally reunited and have now begun wedding planning.

Explaining her parent's behaviour, Orchard said: "Being an unmarried mother in the 60s was frowned upon.

"My parents decided they would bring the baby up but I had to sever all contact with Chester."

The wedding venue will be in Taunton, Somerset, where 57-year-old retired shop worker Orchard lives.

Social networking sites such as Friends Reunited and Facebook have helped many old companions and couples find each other many years down the line.

Click through for a top of the range list of beautiful wedding dresses