Meet lucky winners of a dream wedding (From Worcester News)

Meet lucky winners of a dream wedding

12:20pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News By Neil Watts

A LUCKY couple from Worcester are in dreamland after winning a wedding worth £6,500.

Joseph Leighton and Leanne Turner will tie the knot at the Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel, Smite Lane, Hindlip, near Worcester, next year after scooping the top prize in a competition run in conjunction with your Worcester News.

They can’t quite believe their luck, having intended to marry in four years’ time, and have Mr Leighton’s mother to thank for starting off the collection of winning coupons.

Miss Turner, aged 23, who is legal co-ordinator for Mainstay in Whittington, near Worcester, said: “I could not believe it. I was in a day dream, trying to learn about company law.”

Mr Leighton, 28, who works for the Staffordshire and West Midlands Probation Trust, was equally stunned. “I had forgotten about it, so I completely shocked and for the rest of the day I was smiling.”

He proposed to his fiancée during the Olympics – after the men’s 100 metre final.

He popped the question on the Thames Embankment with the Houses of Parliament providing a memorable backdrop. He said: “We had talked about getting engaged for a while and we wanted to look at rings.

“I’d had the ring for about six months when I asked the question down by the river.”

The Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel boasts stunning views and gardens complete with lakes, making it ideal for an eye catching photoshoot on the day.

Mr Leighton said: “It is our first time here but we said ‘wow’ as we pulled up. We liked the look of the countryside and the views, it’s really nice and quite grand. We are more than happy.”

Michael Pique, the hotel’s general manager, said there had been a great response to the competition and was delighted for the couple.

"It is always a great pleasure to make it a day to remember for people. They are already very happy and we have made them even happier,” he said.

Joseph and Leanne have set a date of October 4, 2013, and plan to spend their honeymoon in Florida.

What the happy couple can look forward to

• A wedding dress from the Bridal Gallery worth up to £800
• £800 photoshoot with Mojo Photography
• Bridal bouquet, table runners and decorations from the Flower House worth £300
• A three-tier sponge cake worth £170 from Cake Ice
• Civil ceremony, reception, wedding breakfast, evening buffet, accommodation for the bride and groom, 50 daytime guests and 70 evening guests worth £4,350