A couple who are mistaken as mum and son due to their 29-year age gap claim it was 'love at first sight' - and they got engaged just six months after meeting. Luke Ellis and Steff White started chatting online last June and clicked from day dot but when they met in the flesh two days later and hugged, the 'deal was done' and they started dating.
The 25-year-old said he was drawn to 54-year-old Steff's wholesome, down to earth and loving personality while his cheeky charm, old fashioned values and chivalrous nature got her heart racing. The mum-of-four even admitted that she thought she'd 'won the lottery' when the published model rocked up to their first date.
The coach driver, who described Steff as the 'love of his life', fell so head over heels that he popped the question just six months after first setting sights on one another. Despite having the support of family and friends, Luke claims their relationship has had a mixed response given perplexed strangers flash them dodgy looks in public and they've even been asked 'what do the neighbours think?'.
But the pair simply laugh off such negativity as their love continues to grow 'stronger and stronger' by the day, and they hope to tie the knot at the end of this year. The couple hope that sharing their story will raise awareness of age gap relationships and straighten out misconceptions surrounding them - including that they're rooted in sexual kinks or fetishes.
Luke, from near Sidmouth, Devon, said: "We're not only engaged, we're soulmates and best friends. "Some people do get paranoid about age or whatever, I didn't see her age. I just saw her personality, her heart and soul, and everything else about her. I just fell in love with her for that. Everything is perfect about her.
"My mum and Steff are the same age, bar a few months. Some people do look at us and think 'is this some sort of very weird mother and son relationship?' Even though it's never been said, no one has ever said this or hinted towards it.
"We know that some people have given us that sort of look as if to say 'this is very dodgy', it's all just by facial expressions.
"A lot of people seem to think that an age gap relationship is about a sexual kink or fetish, and it's not just that. That's not the case at all with us. It's all about love, affection and uniting together in matrimony. I went down on one knee, the traditional way of doing it because that's me, a lot of people seem to think that those aged 25, especially men, aren't old fashioned, but believe me I am.
"I don't believe in this new age relationship generation. I believe in the old fashioned [way] - a committed relationship with one person, dedicating your life to one another and making everything work. My approach is that she's the love of my life, I will do anything and everything possible to protect her from any form of negative influence. She shouldn't have to live feeling vulnerable and scared, if she ever feels like that I make sure that I get down to the reason for that."
The love birds first started talking via Facebook Dating last June and met for the first time at Steff's flat two days later. Luke said: "We started talking, had a really good chat and just seemed to click from day dot.
"Since that first day we met there was an instant connection. It was a eureka moment and we just wanted to see each other more and more. It was definitely love at first sight. That's the day we count [as anniversary of getting together] because the commitment pretty much started from the first time we met.
"I was drawn to her wholesome and very down to earth nature. She has a unique personality - I love her humour, how kind hearted and loving she is, and how dedicated and committed she is to someone - that really got me into loving her."
Steff added: "I was told to go on Facebook Dating, I've never done anything like that. But I don't know what it was about him - he was cheeky and just said it how it was. He said 'I'm glad I swiped right'. I kept saying 'no, I'm too old'. But I thought even if nothing's going to happen, he's good to talk to. Anyway, we arranged to meet and I opened the door and thought I'd won the lottery.
"He hugged me and an amazing feeling of warmth came over me. That was it, the deal was done. You don't get that, you just don't get it. It's very rare. There was a spark and that was it, and it just got more and more and more."
Steff, who admitted she can't find a single bad thing to say about her fiancé, said being with him is full of excitement as there's never a dull moment when they're together. The spontaneous pair love nothing more than jumping in the car and heading out on road trips.
Luke said that spending 36 hours travelling around Devon together while they were dating saw them intimately connect, without any disagreements. It was one of the key moments that led him to propose to Steff on Sidmouth seafront, the place where they went on their first outing together.
He said that their loved ones are 'over the moon' that they've found one another but that they have had a mixed response to their relationship. Luke said: "I think the looks we receive is curiosity and confusion. We've had a couple of dodgy looks as if to say 'hang on, that's a bit strange. Is there something going on between them?'
"We end up getting back in the car and having a bit of a laugh about it, we just laugh it off. We're not worried - they can think what they think but we know that we're happy. And then there's been others that look at us just like normal human beings, which is what we want.
"Some of the comments that we've had are 'you two are really happy together, you both have a genuine smile and look so content with each other and you just match really well'. Some of the other comments have been like 'oh well, what do the neighbours think?' just basically trying to pile on mental paranoia to be worried about everyone else, when we haven't got any right to be worried. We are our own people and that's not for them to really comment on."
Steff added: "I was a little bit apprehensive about going out in public. I think it was because of other people's reactions and I was thinking 'oh God, they're going to think you're my son'. And then I thought you know what, sod it, this is my life. They can think what the hell they like. It's nothing to do with anybody [else].
"It [the age gap] seems an awful lot. Some people must think 'what on earth is he doing with a woman that age?' but the thing is, I might be 54 but I don't look it, act it and I'm growing old disgracefully."
The couple have never been in a relationship with anyone significantly younger than each other before. They're hoping to tie the knot at the end of this year not too far from their home in Devon.
Luke: "My message to others is that they need to think it through because an age gap relationship isn't just something you can go into like a bull in a china shop and think it's going to work, you've got to really weigh it out and think about every aspect of it. If you want to try and make it work, my best advice is to get to know that person and see if you have that connection and that your values add up to each other. Also, don't ever be afraid of what other people think."
Steff added: "Luke keeps me young and on my toes. We laugh all the time. We just gel and click. He's my dream guy. If I had a computer and could type in what kind of life I'd always wanted, he'd come out. He's everything a woman wants.
"He's old fashioned, attentive and looks after me. He's just so loving and tells me he loves me every single day. This is seven months later, and it just gets stronger and stronger. He makes me a cup of tea in the morning and if I ask him 'can you get me this?' He'll do it without quivering about it. He opens the car door for me and stuff like that. He's a gent.
"I'd tell other women to give it a chance. Don't go in blind. You'll know if you've got a connection. If there's a spark, you'll feel it."
