And the bride wore white... again! Grandmother loses six stone to fit into her size 12 wedding dress for the first time in FIFTY YEARS at golden anniversary party

  • Valerie Archer, 69, went from 16st 9lb to 10st 10lb for golden anniversary
  • Last wore the dress on their wedding day in 1965, when she was size 12
  • She and husband Trevor, 79, from Kent, recreated their honeymoon 

By Lucy Waterlow for MailOnline

Published: 12:17 EST, 12 June 2015 | Updated: 14:00 EST, 12 June 2015

Most women plan to lose weight so they can fit into a favourite pair of jeans but one grandmother set her sights much higher - she was determined to fit into the wedding dress she wore half a century before.   

Valerie Archer, 69, from Wainscott, Kent, shed six stone to fit into her gown again on her 50th wedding anniversary thanks to following a healthy eating and exercise regime.

The grandmother-of-one last wore the dress on her wedding day on May 29, 1965, when she was a size 12 as she married husband Trevor, 79.

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Valerie Archer, 69, lost six stone to fit into her wedding dress again

Valerie Archer, 69, lost six stone to fit into her wedding dress again, left. She last wore the long sleeve white lace dress when she tied the knot in 1965, right, to husband Trevor

Valerie Archer looked chic in her tailored gown, worn with a short veil on her wedding day, May 29, 1965,

Valerie Archer looked chic in her tailored gown, worn with a short veil on her wedding day, May 29, 1965,

Valerie joined Weight Watchers three years ago and it was her group leader's idea to see if she could fit into her wedding dress again on hearing it was to be her golden wedding anniversary this year.

Since joining the group, Valerie has dropped from 16st 9lb to 10st 10lb and was back to being a size 12 - the same size she was when she was a bride.

Parish councillor Valerie, who used to work a museum guide, ventured into the attic to dig out the vintage gown she'd stored since her wedding day but never believed it would actually fit again.

She said: 'It was up in the loft as we've moved house a few times and I've always bought it with us.

'Amazingly it fit perfectly, I just couldn't believe it. I never thought it actually would.'

Memories of their happy day flooded back for Valerie when she saw herself in the gown and she knew she had to wear it when she celebrated their wedding anniversary with friends and family.

Valerie joined Weight Watchers to drop from 16st 9lb, pictured, to 10st 10lb

Valerie joined Weight Watchers to drop from 16st 9lb, pictured, to 10st 10lb

And when she wore the gown at the anniversary bash, husband Trevor said she looked just as beautiful as the day they married. 

He said: 'She looked amazing I couldn't believe it. You see someone every day and you don't notice the difference so much. We had a great day.'

Former security worker, Trevor, who has survived cancer three times, and Valerie were joined by their two children as they celebrated their marriage milestone.

Valerie said she was delighted to wear the dress which made her feel young again. 

'When I saw the picture from our anniversary I couldn't actually believe it was me,' she said.

Valerie and Trevor pictured on their golden wedding anniversary with the bride back in her dress. The couple also recreated their big day with friends and family by hiring a motorbike and side car

Valerie and Trevor pictured on their golden wedding anniversary with the bride back in her dress. The couple also recreated their big day with friends and family by hiring a motorbike and side car

The couple pictured when they met. Two children and 50 years later, they remain happily married 

The couple pictured when they met. Two children and 50 years later, they remain happily married 

The bike-mad couple continued the revival theme by organising a motorcycle and sidecar to pose with, as they did on their big day did 50 years ago.

They also went back to the village of East Boldre in the New Forest where they went on their honeymoon.

Although the cottage where they stayed as newlyweds has new owners, they were invited in for a cup of tea. 

Explaining how she lost weight, Valerie said she stuck to the Weight Watchers eating plan along with power walking three times a week.

The cottage in the New Forest, pictured when the newlyweds stayed there on their honeymoon in 1965

The cottage in the New Forest, pictured when the newlyweds stayed there on their honeymoon in 1965

Half a century on, the couple visited the cottage again on their golden wedding anniversary

Half a century on, the couple visited the cottage again on their golden wedding anniversary

She said the weekly group sessions she attended, and the support she received from others there, was instrumental in keeping her motivated and has helped her maintain her weight loss.

When it comes to the secret of how she and Trevor have remained happily married for 50 years, she said: 'There are ups and downs, sometimes I am sure we can't stand each other.

'In some ways we are opposites but we both like motorbikes.

'I also think that when you first meet somebody there's got to be that instant spark. The age gap between us didn't really come into the question at all.'

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