Win your Wedding Competition 2010
The winners have been announced!
CATHERINE Sweeney and MARK Rich
From Bridgwater and have been together for over three years - they say winning would be “the final piece of the puzzle.”
They met while Catherine was working at a bar in the town where Mark was a regular.
The couple say winning the competition would bring their dream of getting married forward and they’d love to share their day with their grandparents.
Catherine said: “My granddad lost his wife a year ago and every time we see him he asks us when we’re getting married. He really wants to see me walk down the aisle.”
CHRIS Waddingham, 25, and HOLLIE Myles, 26
Have been together for two years.
Chris is a Marine and is currently in training in Norway.
“It’s difficult when he’s away,” said Hollie. He’s already been out to Afghanistan and may have to go again.”
Hollie said they would love to get married to make their relationship complete. “We never argue. You know when you meet the person that’s right for you in every way. As Chris spends so much time away, it makes the time you spend together more special.”
KIM Cross, 23, and SAMANTHA Southby, 22
Are from Taunton and have been together since they were 17.
They met while at a party in Taunton and have a 17-month-old daughter, Mylie. The couple are also expecting their second child, due later this year.
Sam said: “It’s going to be a very busy year. We’re having another girl, so it would be really lovely if they could both be our bridesmaids. We are soulmates and best friends. Winning this competition would just be amazing. We couldn’t ever think about affording a wedding – it would complete our family.”
STACEY Millward, 21, and ARRON Janes, 22
Are from Burnham-on-Sea and have been together since they were 11 and say they are still very much in love.
The couple met at school and have grown up together.
Stacey said: “Throughout the years we have had our ups and downs and seen it all through together. Our future is together, getting married would be the luckiest and happiest day of our lives.
“We would love to get married but financially, it’s just not possible at the moment.”
LAURA Rugg, 26, and PHILLIP Matthews, 30
They have been together for two years.
Their relationship was put to the test after Laura was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after they met while working as actors in London. After undergoing a mastectomy and receiving radiotherapy, Laura is coming to the end of her treatment.
Phillip said: “In a way we’re stronger for it - it made me realise how much I wanted to be with her.
“Laura’s had such a horrible time being diagnosed with cancer so young.
“To be able to give her this would be like a dream come true.”
DAVE Porter and JULIE Pearson
Are from Taunton and have been together for two years.
The couple met through mutual friends and say winning this competition would “mean the world” to them.
Julie said: “It would be great to have a day you always dreamed of - it would mean the world to both of us, and our families.”
Julie has a five-year-old daughter Isla Symons and Dave has a five-year-old son Bailey Cockram, both from previous relationships. Dave swept Julie off her feet by proposing during a romantic meal.
EMMA Kidner, 26, and JAMES Takle, 25
Met in Dellers nightclub in Taunton nine years ago and have been together for five years.
Emma said: “It would be absolutely amazing to win this wedding.
“We managed to buy our house a couple of years ago and we put all our savings into that. We got engaged in October last year and it would be a dream, it really would be amazing to get married. We’ve both had a couple of bad years with family bereavements but this would give us something to look forward to.”
PAUL Kerrigan, 31, and EMMA Pickering, 26
Of Taunton, have been together ten years.
The couple were ecstatic to learn they had made our top ten and are hoping they can walk away with the spectacular £22,500 wedding.
Paul and Emma met in a Taunton nightclub and now have two children, Freya, five, and Paddy, five-and-a-half-months.
Emma has worked as a nursery nurse at Check Mates in Bishop’s Hull for about seven years and Paul is a builder.
The couple got engaged after Paul put the ring in a Christmas cracker and hope their wedding can be just as romantic.
KATY Cooper, 24, and ROD Gain, 35
Of Taunton, say winning our £22,500 wedding would be “a dream come true.”
They have been together three years and met through friends when Rod was best man and Katy a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding.
The couple have a four-month-old son Mason and appeared on the County Gazette’s front page when Rod proposed during Katy’s pregnancy scan.
Rod is a mechanic and Katy plans to return to work at a care home in Bishop’s Hull after her maternity leave but wants to “make the most” of her time with her new son.
ANNA Marie Danes, 24, and SHAUN Burton, 29
Are from Taunton snd say winning this competition would be “fantastic”.
They have been together for nearly nine years and have three children, Melissa, five, Bethany, three, and Madison, one.
Anna said: “It would be fantastic to be able to get married.
“If we won this competition we would be able to put our money into other things and with three girls that’s probably saving for their princess weddings!”
Shaun works as a railway operator and is away a lot to provide for the family but they work hard to be a loving couple.