WEDDINGS US groom weds Welsh bride after online romance

The couple: Sarah Michael, 29, from Merthyr Tydfil and Tyler Ritz, 27, from Slatington in Pennsylvania, US. The venue: Sarah and Tyler married at Llechwen Hall, near Pontypridd, on April 26. How they met: The couple met online in 2015. Sarah said they haven’t managed to stay away from each other ever since.

Tyler took his first ever flight just to visit her and arrived in London in the summer of 2015.

Sarah said: “Since then we have travelled back and forth between the UK and US to spend time together, and with each other’s families.

“We communicated via video calls and text messages when we were apart and would also plan trips.” The proposal: Tyler popped question in October 2016.

They instantly started planning the wedding and also put plans in motion for Tyler to make the move to Wales so they could start their lives together.

Sarah said: “We have had to go through a very lengthy and stressful visa application which we continue to work through for Tyler to stay in the UK with me.

“In March, Tyler took a one-way flight to the UK and we have been living together ever since in Merthyr Tydfil.” The wedding: The couple say they had a wonderful wedding and were surrounded by their family and friends.

Tyler’s family travelled from the US the to be with the couple, which meant Sarah finally got to meet them in person.

The bride paid special thanks to the team who helped to make her day special.

This included her hairdresser Kirsty Flora Jones, and Flowers by Joy for making such beautiful floral arrangements.

Photographer Judith Cooke was also on hand to capture some of the best moments of the day.

They are now starting to settle into their new life as husband and wife. The honeymoon: Sarah and Michael didn’t jet off anywhere straight after the wedding but they are preparing to travel to Barcelona to enjoy some time in the sun.