Meet the couple who got engaged under the sparkling Southport Christmas tree

A Merseyside couple are looking forward to a glittering future together – after getting engaged at Southport’s sparkling Christmas Tree.

Ryan Wall, 27, and Sadie Farrington, 23, enjoyed their first date at the illuminated landmark three years ago.

Now they are looking forward to their first Christmas together in their new house.

For Ryan, who works in finance as an assistant accountant, and Sadie, who is a Senior Health Care Assistant (HCA) in the NHS, Christmas will always be a special time for them.

Southport’s illuminated Christmas tree is situated in the Town Hall Gardens, at the heart of Southport town centre.

It is provided by Southport Business Improvement District (Southport BID) and is owned and installed by local lighting and Christmas decorating firm IllumiDex UK Ltd.

The tree is eight metres tall and is covered with 25,000 LED pixels, which create a series of stunning light displays for visitors to enjoy.

Ryan Wall and Sadie Farrington got engaged next to Southport’s sparking Christmas tree, after enjoying their first date there

Ryan said: “Me and Sadie met on a dating app and for our first date we met at the Christmas tree!

“Every year since then we go back on the same day and take a picture of us and the tree to remember our first date.

“This year I decided to take the picture a step further and propose. She was delighted and said yes!

“We are hoping to get married in June 2022.

“We first met there in 2018. This is our third year at the tree.

“We love going every year and Christmas is always special – we’ve just bought our first home and are looking forward to our first Christmas in the new house.”

Southport’s stunning Christmas tree has been provided by Southport BID as part of its packed festive programme for the town which is designed to attract people from across the region to enjoy local shops, restaurants, bars, hotels and other businesses.

Southport BID and contractors IllumiDex UK Ltd have also provided bespoke Christmas decorations on streets across Southport town centre, including huge ‘Welcome to Southport’ signs hanging across the road at either end of Lord Street.

Earlier this year Southport BID and IllumiDex UK Ltd completed their project to create a ‘boulevard of light’, with 300,000 lights strung along both sides of Lord Street.