A young couple who got engaged as teenagers say they have 'no regrets' - and are standing up for Millie Bobby Brown.
The Stranger Things actress, 19, has taken her relationship with Jon Bon Jovi's son, Jake Bongiovi, to the next level after he got down on one knee to propose.
Saffie Michaelis, now 24, met her husband, Zac, at a friend's 18th birthday party in February 2017 and has no regrets over committing so young.
By the December of the same year, the couple, who were 18 and 19 at the time, decided to get married after a 10-month romance.
At first, close friends were sceptical of the legitimacy of the engagement, but they were soon proved wrong as the pair went from strength to strength.
Saffie and Zac, 24, tied the knot in September 2021 and have been in marital bliss ever since - and say the hate Millie is receiving is "ridiculous".
Saffie, who works in sales, from West London said: "We met when I was 17 and he was 18 at a mutual friend's 18th birthday party.
"I actually thought he was someone else at first, but once we got talking I realised something was different about him.
"We were very cool at first and decided not to label anything, but we swiftly realised we weren't operating like an open relationship at all and we became boyfriend and girlfriend in September.
"By the December we were engaged when I was 18 and he was 19. Of course, as an 19-year-old boy, you don't just go around proposing to people. We did discuss it first.
"We started discussing it because we were both looking at university options.
"We were on a gap year that year but the year after we were both looking to go to uni.
"Our thinking was that when couples go to uni they either break up before, or try to make it work but break up, or you come out the other end and generally end up staying together long term.
"We wanted to go into uni knowing no fight would be our last fight and that we would learn to fit and grow together rather than quit.
"I think Milly Bobby Brown probably has quite an old soul, having grown up in the public eye so quickly. I think they'd both have their heads screwed onto their shoulders so why shouldn't they get engaged."
Zac asked for Saffie's father's blessing in December, and then officially proposed to her shortly after at home.
The couple's parents both approved - on the condition that the pair would wait until after they finished their studies to tie the knot.
In September 2018, Saffie went to the University of Nottingham to study English, whereas Zac stayed in London and attended UCL.
Their university experience was heavily disrupted by Covid, so Saffie ended up moving back home to West London in 2021 to complete her studies and began wedding planning.
They officially married on 13th September 2021 in a ceremony in Chelsea, London, with all of their family and friends.
Saffie said: "When we first got engaged my close friends weren't 100 per cent convinced it was legitimate.
"We have a running joke that my very closest friends didn't bother writing a congratulations card because they didn't think it would end up in marriage.
"But once we put an announcement out in the newspaper and some time passed they got on board.
"Our wedding was categorically the most incredible day of both of our lives.
"Because we were so young when we met, both of our families are each others families too.
"All of our friends grew up together so it was a wonderful day full of genuine love.
"Zac and I have only grown to fit each other better over time.
"When you're so young, you're almost a half-grown person, so you grow the other half of you to fit the person you're with.
"We grew to be complete people together.
"Life is blissful now.
"Talking to my friends, so many people seem to have existential angst living in their early 20s.
"I'm so lucky we're building a home together and building everything I ever wanted."
The couple are now living in West London, near their families, but are working towards buying their first home together.
Stranger Things actress Millie announced her engagement this week to Jon Bon Jovi's son, Jake, who is 20 - and received criticism due to her tender age.
Saffie said: "I think the hate on Millie Bobby Brown is ridiculous. Every 18 or 19-year-old is going to be very different.
"She's grown up in the public eye and probably had to grow up really fast, so is probably an older soul.
"For me, I grew up really fast living in London, so whilst 18 sounds really young we were old souls and also marriage doesn't stop you from going out or living your life, you just do it with another person.
"So long as you've both got your heads screwed on, why not give it a go?
"There's no harm in waiting either, but I don't think you should judge anyone else.
"For me, married life is blissful.
"We have no regrets getting engaged so young and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made."
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