When Rebecca Falloon sent a smile to Timothy Hill, she was wary that she didn't fit into the age bracket he'd specified on FindSomeone.

But the old adage that age is just a number rang true after love blossomed between the Christchurch couple.

"I almost didn''t send him a smile. I was out of his age range but then I just though "I've got nothing to lose"," says Rebecca.

It's lucky the legal secretary did work up the courage because just a few weeks later she agreed to go for lunch with Tim, a records preservation officer - the man who was set to become her future husband!

(Tim later admitted to her he didn't really think about the age bracket when signing up so he wasn't worried!)

"I'm quite shy, neither of us are very big talkers. But it was just really relaxed. We just both thought this was going to be a nice lunch and we chatted non-stop."

The pair decided they liked each other enough during that hour that they arranged to go and see The Hangover at the movies a couple of days later.

"The Hangover was the funniest movie and I have a laugh that sounds a little bit like a pig squealing when I am laughing hysterically at something, and I really tried hard not to laugh during the movie even though it was the funniest one I'd seen in a long time!" say Rebecca, now 36.

"Tim wasn't put off however, and we began hanging out all the time from there! Five months later we decided to move in together!".

The pair married in Christchurch just a couple of weeks before the devastating February 22 quake.

"We were fortunate enough to have chosen 4 February 2011 as our wedding date, as our reception was at Elizabeth House in Merivale, which is sadly now to be demolished due to the earthquake. We had our photos taken both at the Botanical Gardens and the Arts Centre, and the Arts Centre was also badly damaged on 22 February. We have some beautiful photos of these historic sites now."

Family and friends were supportive of Rebecca signing up to online dating, which she was on for around three months before she met now 34-year-old Tim.

"Friends were the ones that pushed me to get on there in the first place

They were really supportive and understood these days that when you're in your mid 30's you don't want to go out to bars and clubs. It's a great way to meet people."

Her advice to those still on the online journey on FindSomeone?

"Don't give up. There will be someone out there. No expectations and be yourself."

Rebecca says everyone should "definitely have a picture up" and to be open and try to provide more than one word answers.

"It can happen. It's an excellent way to meet people. Just be safe and always tell someone where you are going."