Dream wedding winners tell of their amazing day

A couple from Cullompton have enjoyed a ‘magical’ luxury wedding at a top Exeter hotel after winning an £8,000 package for their dream day.

Toby and Carla Rowland beat off more than 30 other couples to win the sought-after prize at the Mercure Exeter Southgate in Southernhay - and they said everything about their big day was ‘absolutely perfect.’

Mrs Rowland, 27, said: “We had an absolutely amazing day. Everything was perfect. The Southgate was a fantastic venue and no request was too much for the staff. The reception room looked magical for our 60 daytime guests and 80 evening guests.

“I had a really big dress, courtesy of La Bella Bridal. We had four adult bridesmaids, four little bridesmaids and a little pageboy. They were brilliant, and they even ran up in to town in their dresses an hour before the ceremony as I had left my jacket somewhere with the rings in the pocket!”

The couple’s first dance was Close your Eyes by Michael Buble and they will honeymoon in Cuba later in the year.

Tamsyn Parsons, Sales Manager at the hotel, said: “We were thrilled to host Carla and Toby’s dream wedding. It was a very special day and we were delighted to have been a part of it. Carla was absolutely radiant in her beautiful dress.”

Mr and Mrs Rowland won the competition after calling Radio Exe when the station played marriage-related songs. Lucky entrants were invited to the grand final at the Mercure Southgate. They then had to select a balloon random, with one lucky balloon containing the fantastic prize.

Exeter businesses donated parts of the package from Kate Burt Cakes giving the cake and Rosie the Florist doing the flowers. The package also included Kooky Booths with a fun photo booth for guests to enjoy, Purity Boutique Spa doing the bride’s make-up and manicure, KCB Images doing the photos and Your Perfect Night gave the disco. Luget’s provided free suit hire and La Bella Bridal kitted out the bride and mother-of-the-bride.

Summer and Lola, the Hair Boutique did Mrs Rowland’s hair. Other businesses who donated were The Little City Paperie, B:Spoken.two, Cockington Chocolate Company and Party Lights South West.

The Mercure Exeter Southgate is hosting Open Saturdays on July 4 and August 15 from 10am until 4pm, hosted by Stacey Tidiman. Prospective couples can come in and see the hotel dressed for a wedding and a civil ceremony and have the chance to chat about their wedding plans with Stacey over a glass of bubbles and canapés.

Picture caption: Carla and Toby all smiles on their big day. Credit: KCB Images