Within a year, Bill and Elaine Edmunds were married.

Now, the loving Tamworth couple have waltzed their way through the decades, and marked their 71^st wedding anniversary last week.

A 20-year-old Elaine was watching her dad's band The Merry Makers play at a Friday night dance in her home town of Glen Innes in 1948.

It was the first of many evenings the couple would spend twirling into the weekend with ballroom dancing events.

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Elaine was swept off her feet by the dashing young Bill that night in 1948, and they were engaged on her 21^st birthday and then married on December 28, 1949.

Several decades on, the couple now live in McKay House in Tamworth together.

McKay House lifestyle coordinator Sally Abra said the Bill and Elaine have shared many of their favourite moments with staff and residents.

"They both speak today of how blessed they have been throughout the years together, bringing three children into the world and giving them many grandchildren and great grandchildren to love and enjoy," Ms Abra told the Leader.

"They spent many Friday nights when they were younger enjoying ballroom dancing to Frank Bourke's White Rose Orchestra in Tamworth and surrounding towns, entering competitions with their dancing skills."

Bill and Elaine's talent on the dance floor gifted them a "lasting memory" when they won a competition in 1979 and were whisked off to Fiji for a ten-day holiday.

After 71 years of married life, Bill and Elaine shared their special secret.

"Simply sharing, giving and taking and pulling together when things get tough," Elaine said.

Bill and Elaine spent their 71^st wedding anniversary celebrating very differently to their last one, amid COVID-19.

After having a party in 2019, Bill and Elaine spent their day together at home, answering phone calls from family members.