A Cumbrian couple have won an £8,300 wedding package from a Lake District hotel.
Eve Whalley, 24, entered the competition – without telling fiancé, Lewis Westhead, 25, – after her grandad encouraged her to apply.
The Daffodil Hotel and Spa in Grasmere created the competition to celebrate the relaunch of its wedding offering.
At the time, the Ulverston couple had been planning a much smaller wedding for just 20 guests. However, everything changed when they received the news of their win.
“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw the email,” Eve said. “It felt completely surreal – and even more special because Lewis had no idea I’d entered.”
Thanks to the prize, which is worth more than £8,300, they are now able to have up to 65 day guests.
The young couple who has been together for almost four years have booked their wedding for September after having a successful planning meeting with the hotel’s wedding and events planner, Becca Foran.
The win comes after a particularly challenging few years for Lewis and Eve. Lewis lost his father shortly before meeting Eve four years ago.
Lewis said: “Unfortunately my dad and Eve never got the chance to meet but I just know they would have got on so well. We’ll definitely pay tribute to my dad on the day, there will be a reserved seat at the table for him.
“It’s fair to say we’ve had a tough couple of years, but we’ve got through it together and winning our wedding has taken a great deal of pressure off of us. We’re now able to spend the money we saved on additional items for the wedding that we didn’t think we’d be able to afford.
“It’s opened up so many possibilities,” Eve added. “We can now make the day even more special in ways we couldn’t before. In fact, our dog Elkie, who became part of the family a couple of years ago, will be able to join the celebrations.”
For Lewis, an English teacher at a local school with a passion for poetry, the location holds a deep personal meaning.
He said: “I studied William Wordsworth at university so always enjoyed his poetry, and my dad and I visited Grasmere a couple of times when I was younger so it’s lovely to be getting married in the Lake District, it holds really special childhood memories for me.”
The prize includes a three-course wedding meal for 65 guests, as well as drinks and evening snacks, plus Lewis and Eve will stay in a junior suite on the night of their wedding.
