Ring bearer and flower girl marry 17 years after they first walked down the aisle together

Adrian Franklin and Brooke Gibson Franklin, now 21 and 22, said they were in 'shock' over all the attention

Adrian and Brooke Franklin on their wedding day

A couple who first walked down the aisle together as children have married in the same church in which they were the flower girl and ring bearer 17 years ago.

Adrian Franklin and Brooke Gibson Franklin, now 21 and 22, first met as two five-year-olds at the wedding of friends of their parents in Gastonia, North Carolina.

On 19 September the pair married in front of 300 friends and family, including the bride whose day they first shared together.

"We forgot that we were in the wedding together and she brought the photos to us," Mrs Franklin told ABC News. "She was really excited."

How precious...

Posted by Kimberly Gilley Franklin on Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Mrs Franklin said she had always had a crush on her now-husband, but as children growing up he “wouldn’t have anything to do with it”.

“I was always trying to get away from her and run from her and hide from her,' Mr Franklin told WBTV. But the pair eventually started dating in high school, with Mr Franklin later proposing with the help of friends.

Mr Franklin added the couple were “in shock” over the attention they were getting but were “glad that it’s good news going out not bad.”