We will, say happy couple

HAPPY couple: Tracy (left) and Natalie

TWO Oldham women will make history at Chadderton Town Hall by being the first same-sex couple to marry in Greater Manchester.

Natalie Brophy and Tracy Wild, of St Mary’s, will wed a week tomorrow — the fourth anniversary of their first date. Natalie (24) will wear a dress and Tracy (35) will wear a suit.

The new laws came into force at the weekend, making same-sex marriage legal across Britain. Previously, gay and lesbian couples could only have civil partnerships.

Natalie is a manager with IAS, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities, while Tracy is a warehouse worker in Chadderton.

Natalie said: “We met through friends and started talking on Facebook. We went on our first date on April 8 for a walk around Hollingworth Lake. I just fell for Tracy. That’s why we chose April 8 to get married. It’ll be our fourth anniversary as a couple.

“We didn’t plan to get married when we booked Chadderton Town Hall. We only planned a civil partnership. But the registrar called us to say same-sex marriages were becoming legal very close to our date.

“We didn’t plan any big event because of the cost but when we told our families and fiends, everybody wanted to chip-in.”