WEDDING WINNERS

A COUPLE enjoyed the best day of their lives on Saturday – after getting hitched in spectacular style thanks to the Echo’s Win a Wedding competition.

For Lianne Reed and Mike Carruthers, their stunning nuptials were so much more than just a day to remember as they wed almost seven years after meeting at the Capitol shopping centre on Queen Street where they both worked.

The lucky pair found out they won the Win a Wedding competition in January – in the same week they were making plans to buy a home together.

But when they found out, they put those plans to move on hold and stayed living with Lianne’s parents to focus on their upcoming ceremony.

Mike, originally from Portsmouth, moved to Cardiff almost eight years ago. He worked in security at the shopping centre while Lianne, from Heath, Cardiff, worked on a jewellery stall.

Lianne said he used to come over and help her with her stall and they got talking. She said: “It was actually me who asked him out on a date! We knew each other for about a year.”

Liane was 19 and Mike was 24 at the time. For their first date, they met up at The Yard pub. The date lasted 12 hours with the pair ending up at a casino. They ended up winning £150 on roulette – which was only the start of their lucky streak.

Mike then took Lianne to her family home in a taxi in the Heath, before walking home all the way to Whitchurch.

Mike proposed on their fifth anniversary at The Shard skyscraper in London.

Lianne, 26, said: “It was out of this world. I’m an only child. My dad was happy to welcome him into the family, but no-one else knew he was going to propose.”

Speaking after the wedding, Mike said: “The day was absolutely amazing. We were blessed with the weather which is obviously the one thing you can’t book.”

The reception was at five-star venue the St David’s Hotel & Spa.

The bride was taken to the church in a vintage-style wedding car. Lianne wore a fitted ivory dress, with a beautiful fishtail and detail, with a veil with Swarovski crystals.

Before the reception, the happy couple stopped by to visit a very special person who was not able to make the ceremony.

Mike, 31, said: “My wife looked stunning in her dress. Her nan wasn’t able to make the ceremony because of her health so we swung by the nursing home on the day to have some photos with her. She had a photo with her nan and mum so there were three generations in the picture.”

The pair spent the evening with friends and family from all over the UK. Mike said: “People have come from all parts of the country to be with us – from Portsmouth and all over Wales as well as a friend flying down from Edinburgh.

“The food was fantastic – I had some nice chicken for main and truffles for dessert. This was followed by a hog roast in the evening.

“It was the best day of our lives and everyone looked amazing.”

They will jet off to their honeymoon, 10 days in Gran Canaria, today.