A couple who met online during lockdown and endured socially distanced dates got engaged at Oldham Pride festival this weekend.

Becki Beresford and Louise Dewsnap met online during lockdown and were forced to endure socially distanced dates during the peak of Covid-19 restrictions.

However, since becoming an official couple in June 2020, the couple has moved in together into their home in Stalybridge and as of this weekend, are engaged to be wed.

Becki, originally from Oldham, said she decided to pop the question during Oldham Pride festivities as there was a Pride Picnic event in Alexandra Park – fittingly where the couple met on one of their very first dates over two years ago.

The Oldham Times: The happy couple got engaged at Oldham Pride festival. Image by Oldham Pride.The happy couple got engaged at Oldham Pride festival. Image by Oldham Pride.

However, the data analyst said she was forced to amend the location due to the rain and moved it to the Lion Pavilion for shelter.

Becki added: “I then read that there was a Pride Picnic on which was a great reason to get her to attend a picnic in the rain.

“I had arranged for a local photographer to covertly take photos of the engagement, and while we were out her mum and aunt decorated our house with balloons, banners and lights for when we got home again.

“My mum had also been over with some flowers and a card so we had a lovely welcome and got celebrate with some bubbly.

“The place looked great, with giant engagement rings and heart balloons everywhere.

“It was wonderful.”

The Oldham Times: Louise and Becki (left to right) only shared their anniversary recently in June.Louise and Becki (left to right) only shared their anniversary recently in June.

Reflecting on the engagement itself, the 31-year-old said Louise was “very shocked” when she proposed though “somehow knew it was coming as soon as we were there”.

Becki said that while she was shaking, Louise was crying during the proposal but was able to utter "yes" through her tears and shock.

“I had a ring commissioned in March this year and told her parents.

“In my excitement, I told everyone in our families, so I’m surprised it stayed such a secret.

“I’m amazed at how well it went”, Becki added.

The Oldham Times: The couple have rings with each other's birth stones inside. The couple have rings with each other's birth stones inside.

Becki said she needed to commission a special ring as Louise, who works as a graphic designer and is an artist, didn’t want one from off the shelf.

“She told me that from the start.

“So I worked with a local jeweller based in Chapel-en-le-Frith to create the ring that had to be silver.

“It consists of four stones – two diamonds, my birthstone, peridot, and her birthstone, ruby.”

Becki also said she knew Louise was ‘the one’ from early on when the couple started dating.

She added: “Things have been so easy in our relationship.

“We’re able to communicate well and have mutual love and respect for each other.

“There have never been tensions and we discuss anything that is bothering us before we reach the point of argument.”

Louise, 36, added that she just thought they were going for a picnic and had “no idea” about what Becki had planned.

Louise said: “She did very well keeping it a secret and so did everyone else.

“It was very sweet as it was where we had one of our early dates.

“I love the ring she commissioned and the fact it is so personal to us.

“I’m so excited to spend our lives together and we can now start thinking about where to get married.”

The pair now hope to expand their family by adding a puppy into the mix this coming autumn and are saving up to buy a house together before looking to finalise the big day and their plans.