A LUCKY couple from Weymouth were crowned the competition winners of a glamorous wedding at Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens.

This afternoon, Sunday April 19, people were offered the chance to get everything they needed for their big day as the gardens in West Dorset hosted a wedding fair, set within a marquee on the West Lawn.

The wedding fair was part of the gardens’ celebrations of their 250th anniversary.

As part of the celebrations, the gardens teamed up with the Dorset Echo to run a competition to win a wedding at the venue.

Readers collected tokens from the paper to enter and the winners were chosen during the fair.

Weymouth resident Sasha Bestwick, 25, was crowned the wedding winner after she was chosen as one of 10 finalists.

Sasha, who met her partner Richard Purrington, 27, eight years ago on New Year’s Eve, said she was ‘over the moon’ to have won.

She added: “We only got engaged in February after Richard proposed on holiday in Mexico. He works for the RAF so when we arrived back at the airport after our holiday he was told he had to go away for six weeks.

“I haven’t seen him since, but he will be so delighted we have won the wedding and I can’t wait to tell him.

“Abbotsbury Gardens are absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting for a wedding. Thank you to the Echo, the Gardens and all the organisers for this opportunity.”

Sasha was the last of the finalists to be called and picked the last bouquet of flowers left, which contained the wedding prize.

She said: “I really thought I wasn’t going to win so I’m overwhelmed and so excited. Richard has always talked about having a wedding outside.

“We never seem to have any good luck but this has changed all that.”

Sasha’s prize includes the wedding at the gardens and a host of big day goodies, such as a wedding gown, groom's suit hire, transport and hair and make-up.

The other shortlisted finalists included Kelci Larder, Krystal Golledge, Michelle Cornish, Jenny Dunn, Carole Hedges, Stacey Mowlam, Natalie Wootton, Charlotte Pearce and Lucy Mattison.

Abbotsbury general manager John Houston said: "This competition offered one couple the chance to have their special day in one of the most beautiful gardens in the country.

"We have about 15 weddings at the gardens each year and that number is growing.

“Well done to Sasha and Richard for winning; we are delighted for them.

“And thank you to the Echo and all the sponsors for putting forward wonderful prizes for the lucky bride to be.

“Abbotsbury Gardens is so special for weddings because of its beautiful surroundings. We can guarantee Sasha will have the most wonderful photos in our unique gardens to remember her big day by.”