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Monica Foster met the love of her life when she was just 13. The catch? Michelle Foster, now Monica\u2019s wife, was her 38-year-old science teacher.<\/p>\n
Michelle taught Monica at school back in 2004 and Monica, a self-confessed \u2018teacher\u2019s pet\u2019, couldn\u2019t get her \u2018favourite teacher\u2019 out of her head, despite the 25-year age gap.<\/p>\n
Sixteen years later, Monica searched on Facebook in April 2020 to see how her former favourite teacher was doing, only to discover that Michelle had been in a relationship with a woman in the past.<\/p>\n
Monica had just come out as gay too and the pair decided to meet up in August 2021, becoming close friends before developing a romantic connection.<\/p>\n
Michelle even divorced her wife to become a couple with her \u2018goody goody student\u2019.<\/p>\n
But their relationship has faced its fair share of adversity, with the pair being mistaken for mother and daughter \u2018several times every day\u2019.<\/p>\n
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This didn\u2019t stop them from finding happiness though and, ignoring daily online abuse from trolls, the couple got engaged in autumn 2022.<\/p>\n
They tied the knot earlier this year and say they\u2019re happier than ever after a \u2018perfect day\u2019 with a private beachfront wedding.<\/p>\n
Michelle, a now-retired teacher, from Big Rapids, Michigan, US, said: \u2018When Monica first reached out, I was always willing to be supportive of former students, so I was very happy reconnect.<\/p>\n
\u2018As we grew close, I was worried about the age gap and I was worried about how we first met, but I had to let it all go.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s amazing how fast the year has flown by since our engagement \u2013 it\u2019s kind of bewildering. It\u2019s amazing and very surreal \u2013 after everything, we know we\u2019ve got this.\u2019<\/p>\n
Monica, a school bus driver, said: \u2018Our wedding day was so significant to me \u2013 I don\u2019t care what people think because they\u2019re not living my life, I am. It just felt so special.\u2019<\/p>\n
During her time at school, Monica had gone through a tough situation and recalled Michelle\u2019s supportive classroom being a \u2018safe place\u2019 for her when she was younger, which was part of the reason she got in touch.<\/p>\n
Over lunch they chatted about their lives and over time they grew to be close friends.<\/p>\n
Monica said: \u2018We were both in really dark places at that time, and finding someone you can relate to and be vulnerable with felt safe.\u2019<\/p>\n
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Both Michelle and Monica have children from previous marriages, but have been living together ever since they left their respective partners.<\/p>\n
Monica said despite the 25-year age gap, they have a lot in common, having bonded over music, camping, outdoor activities and hunting down locally brewed beer.<\/p>\n
While Monica \u2018didn\u2019t really have concerns\u2019 about the age gap, Michelle initially struggled with it because of people\u2019s assumptions.<\/p>\n
She said: \u2018People ask \u201cis that your mum\u201d or even \u201cis that your grandma\u201d all the time.<\/p>\n
\u2018We learned to laugh or brush it off, but if you see me kissing her, why would you ask if she\u2019s my mum?<\/p>\n
\u2018Another question I get asked is whether I loved her when I was 13 \u2013 obviously not.<\/p>\n
\u2018At the time, we didn\u2019t have any relationship besides her being a good teacher.\u2019<\/p>\n
When they got engaged, they both organised separate proposals for each other so they both had a chance to propose.<\/p>\n
Their big day rolled around, and the pair had a tiny beach wedding on June 17 at Suttons Bay, on the shore of Lake Michigan, and they said their vows in a tiny nearby cottage with just a handful of their nearest and dearest.<\/p>\n
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Afterwards they had a singalong to \u2018Good As Hell\u2019 by Lizzo on the waterfront before they \u2018cracked a beer in the forest\u2019.<\/p>\n
Two nights earlier they had had a separate \u2018mini wedding\u2019 with Monica\u2019s children Zeke, seven, and Charlie, five, so they could enjoy the experience too.<\/p>\n
Monica said: \u2018They still talk about it \u2013 Charlie asks to wear her wedding dress and Zeke was wearing a rainbow bowtie.\u2019<\/p>\n
After enjoying a relaxing honeymoon in Traverse City, the newlyweds are now back home and ready to relax as wife and wife.<\/p>\n
Michelle said: \u2018This year has flown fast \u2013 we travelled so much this past year. We\u2019re just ready to be home together \u2013 I\u2019m ready for some boring.\u2019<\/p>\n
Monica added: \u2018It\u2019s time to settle down.\u2019<\/p>\n