THE pair, both 42, wed after losing each other for 16 years. They were reunited when a letter Steve had posted to Carmens mother in a bid to find her 10 years ago was found behind a fireplace during renovation work at her villa in Spain. It was discovered by builders during repairs. Ms Ruiz-Perez, who was then living in France, was given the long lost note and she nervously rang Steve from her home in Paris. Within two days they met - and began planning their wedding in Brixham, Devon, which happened on Friday. They fell in love when Spaniard Carmen was a foreign student staying in Torbay where Steve lives. They became engaged but Carmen returned to France - and they drifted apart. Carmen said: I never got married and now I have married the man I always loved. I didnt phone Steve right away because I was so nervous. It had been ten years since he wrote and I didnt know what he would think. I nearly didnt phone him at all - but I knew I had to make the call. Steve, from Paignton, Devon, said: When we met at the airport it was like a film. We ran across the airport into each others arms. - Daily Telegraph