A COUPLE are piecing together all the dream elements of their big day after winning a wedding courtesy of The Northern Echo.

Bride and groom-to-be Kathryn Miller and Michael Stones, from Shildon, County Durham, won the paper’s Win a Wedding competition.

At the weekend they visited Walworth Castle Hotel, near Darlington, to plan their reception, to be held on April 17 next year.

Surinder Singh, general manager at the Best Western hotel, said: “It was lovely to meet them both and find out what they want from the day.

“They may have won the wedding, but we really want it to be special and personal to them.

“We discussed key elements such as the ceremony, menus and order of the day and booked some bedrooms to make it all they want for themselves and their guests.”

The couple also went to Flowers by Nattrass, in Darlington, which will provide bouquets for the bride and two bridesmaids, buttonholes and flowers.

Early years practitioner Miss Miller, 27, said it was nice for and her 32-year-old IT technician fiance to work together on the plans.

"So far much of the planning, like picking my dress, has been done separately so it is lovely to now be putting both our ideas into the wedding and coming up with personal touches," she said.

The prize also includes a civil ceremony at Darlington Register Office; a bridal gown from Just Perfect Bridal and suit hire from Menswear, by Just Perfect at Shotton Colliery; hair and make-up at The Hair Sanctuary, in Darlington; photographs by & Ever After Photography and a cake from Sadie May Cakes.