Thursday 12 July saw us host the Grand Finale of the ‘Don’t tell the groom: Win a Wedding’ competition.
After 4 months of gathering nearly 150 entries, we announced the winner at an event in Weavers Walk, Newbury. We invited all our couples and partners to a wedding evening, showcasing the best of local suppliers with our three very special VIP judges; Geoff Knappett, Director at the Newbury Building Society, Adrian Martin, Managing Director of the Newbury Weekly News and Anne Murdoch from Newbury College.
Despite the great British summer weather, the turn out was great – thanks to all our couples who came down. We set up a marquee and stage in Weavers Walk and our partners filled a further unit in Weavers Walk with a presentation of their local wedding services including Adam Hillier Photography, Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa and The Newbury Building Society. To entertain us, Guy Portlock Magician wowed the crowds with his amazing tricks and Melisma Music serenaded us with their beautiful singing.
El Sabio provided the food with live paella cooking and a mixture of delicious Tapas. 
Karen from The Allium Design Company created me a wonderful ‘flower dress’ made from roses which added real wow factor. Totally stunning and still on show in the boutique now!
It was a lovely relaxed evening and great to get so many local suppliers together and fab to meet such lovely couples.
Just after 7pm our VIP judges announced the winning couple. It was a tough decision – entries were of a high standard and there was some great proposal stories but our judges felt that the winners pipped everyone else to the post with their story of true guts and determination…
Our winner had proposed herself – yes in the leap year she had taken the brave move to propose to her partner of many years and if that wasn’t brave enough, she decided to do it in front of a packed crowd of 17,000 at Reading FC!
Amanda Phillips and Simon Miles were our worthy winners – Amanda had surprised Simon on his birthday earlier this year. She had strode out in front of the crowd at half time (carrying their young baby Molly) and asked Simon to marry her – and of course he said yes!
Amanda and Simon are a great couple and are currently planning their wedding. Our prize of £5,000 has come at a perfect time as they are looking to buy a home too. We look forward to helping them plan their special day.
Thanks to all our partners for taking part in the competition – Allium Design Co, Cakes by Katie B, Suits Newbury, AHP Photography, Newbury Building Society, Donnington Valley, Apple Print, Camp Hopson, Blue Swallow, and Charter Travel.
We look forward to featuring the wedding shortly .Congratulations again guys !
Enjoy the pictures courtesy of AHP Photography (Thanks Adam) and see the actual moment Amanda proposed, caught on film at Reading FC here: http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~2590772,00.html
Mrs Jones x
