JLS star Aston Merrygold and fiancée Sarah Lou reveal they once considered tying the knot over Zoom

Aston Merrygold and his fiancée Sarah Lou Richards have revealed they considered having a Zoom wedding at the start of the UK coronavirus lockdown earlier this year.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, the JLS star, 32, and the dancer, 36 – who have been engaged since December 2017 – admitted they want to get married ‘as soon as possible’ and have been looking into tying the knot at a registry office before holding a bigger ceremony. 

The parents-of-two also touched on the ups and downs of raising their sons Grayson, two, and Macaulay Shay, two months, during the pandemic as they promoted their staycation campaign with Green Flag and The Luna Drive in Cinema.

The couple have been going strong ever since September 2012, but were forced to postpone their nuptials in the past as they prepared to welcome their children into the world.

Admitting she doesn’t want to hold fire on wedding plans any longer, backup performer Sarah declared: ‘I’m not waiting another two years.’

The blonde went on to confess that the pair even contemplated holding an online ceremony due to the COVID-19 issue. 

She explained: ‘At one point, we were even considering a Zoom wedding as other people we’re doing it when we were in full lockdown. We had too much time on our hands!’

Teasing details about how they aim to take their relationship to the next level, Sarah added: ‘Having a registry and a [separate] wedding has been in conversation. Planning is not a good word for us! 

‘We would love to have been married yesterday if I’m honest, but as soon as possible. We thought, ‘Should we just go and get married tomorrow?’ But it’s not that simple.’  

The duo have been adjusting to life as the mother and father of two children under the age of three – an experience they’ve described as ‘hectic’.

Sarah told us: ‘Lockdown before two children was actually quite lovely. We got real quality time, just the three of us. I actually got more of a rest leading up to the end of my pregnancy than I would have if I was working.

‘Now it’s a bit hectic – some days we feel like we’re smashing it and other days we feel like we’re really not and we just cry.’

Confessing their eldest boy went through a ‘roller-coaster’ of emotions when Macaulay was first born, the choreographer said: ‘He had to adjust to someone else being in the house all the time and deal with mummy and daddy holding that person a lot when he wanted us.

‘It was a bit of a rollercoaster at first as he’s two-and-a-half so he’s still pretty young. but now he’s brilliant, he’s adjusted very well.’ 

Sarah also shared the positive aspects of focusing on motherhood instead of her career as she elaborated: ‘We are not quite house bound but now we’ve potty-trained our two-and-a-half-year-old. 

‘It’s been positive but also frustrating when it comes to work as we haven’t been able to do very much. In a normal circumstance, Aston would have been at work a lot sooner after me having Macaulay, so it’s been helpful.’

Musician Aston echoed: ‘We’ve just tried to make the best out of a bad situation. We are very lucky – we’ve got space in the garden and we’re by the park which is nice for whenever we want to go out and stretch our legs and not to think about rushing around.’ 

Earlier this month, the singer revealed Grayson was targeted with vile racial abuse online.

The X Factor 2008 finalist stressed the importance of reporting trolls to the police, stating: ‘With that whole situation, we had to let people know that you can’t get away with these things and social media is a place where people should feel as safe on there as they do in their homes. 

‘We reported it to the social platform itself and the police were involved. It’s all about letting people know you have to report these things or change won’t happen. The more cases police get, the easier it is for them to really crack down on the issue.’

In the work department, Aston delighted fans in February when he announced he’s reuniting with his JLS bandmates Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes and JB Gill.

The boyband were due to kick off their tour later this year, but were obliged to push back their string of performances to next summer.

‘Reunion rehearsals were supposed to start in October but everything has now moved’, Aston explained. ‘We literally scratched the surface before lockdown hit so we’re in the same boat as everyone else. It’s a waiting game until next year, like every other business in the planet.’

On whether the members, who are all fathers, exchange parenting tips, the media personality shared some special advice for presenter Marvin, who is currently expecting his third child, a boy, with wife Rochelle.

The Strictly Come Dancing 2017 contestant joked: ‘They’re having their little boy so it’s a big difference. 

‘We just tell them to be ready as they know what it’s like to have children, but if their boy turns out anything like ours, then the energy doesn’t stop! Girls play lovely, but with boys it’s carnage. It’s not peaceful!’

Sarah, meanwhile, has been active throughout her dance career, which even led her to meet Aston as she served as a backup act for JLS’ 4th Dimensions Tour.

The teacher credited her busy lifestyle for ‘bouncing back’ after welcoming Grayson, but admitted getting into shape after having her second child has been a ‘slower and harder process’.

She shared: ‘Grayson was very good to me as I literally bounced back after having him. It’s been a slower process the second time round as I probably wasn’t as active as I was with Grayson. 

‘When you already got a child and you’re pregnant, it’s just different. Sometimes you don’t have as much time to work out and I was teaching dance right up until the end of my first pregnancy. 

‘I definitely feel good in myself again, but at one point I even considered something was still in there [after welcoming Macaulay] as my tummy didn’t feel right. 

‘I was really lucky with Grayson and I thought it would be the same but it wasn’t and that’s okay. I find company in social media as you see others with similar stories and it’s normal. 

‘I started working out seven weeks after having Macaulay and I already feel better. I might only do it once or twice a week, but if you can just fit something in, it can make you feel better.’  

Aston and Sarah recently visited famous film locations in the UK to celebrate breakdown provider Green Flag’s partnership with The Luna Drive in Cinema.

On enjoying their romantic date and keeping the spark alive, the artist said: ‘It was a nice little day date, the kids were looked after, and we even had a nice little dance. 

‘We actually went to Notting Hill on the hottest day of the year, so we were very happy for the road trip, especially for the air conditioning! Notting Hill is always a great place for a little first date walk, even though that was probably our thousandth! 

‘We really really like each other. You really found out if you like your partner when you’re housebound with them. We’re still very happy!’   

New research conducted by Green Flag showed the film locations that Brits would most like to visit. From Hollywood blockbusters to cult classics, the UK and Ireland aren’t short of picturesque filming locations.

To celebrate the partnership, Green Flag road-tripped from one movie hotspot to another with Aston and Sarah. The couple visited some of the UK’s most iconic film locations, some of which are being shown at Luna’s Drive In cinema experience this summer, recreating some memorable scenes from the films along the way.

The iconic locations included Harry Potter (Forbidden Forest, Black Park), Notting Hill (Rosmead Gardens), Mary Poppins (‘Admiral Boom’s house’) and Paddington (30 Chalcot Crescent).