BEAMING wedding competition winners tied the knot over the weekend, describing it as their “perfect day”.

Ben and Sophie Bryan (nee Griffiths) exchanged their vows at Claines Church on Saturday before enjoying a reception with friends and family.

Their dream day cost them nothing after winning a Worcester News competition run in conjunction with the Pear Tree Inn and Country Hotel at Smite, near Worcester, for an £8,000 wedding.

“It has gone perfectly, there hasn’t been a hitch,” said a smitten Mr Bryan.

The childhood sweethearts met on separate family visits to a pub in Fernhill Heath about nine years ago.

Newly married 25-year-old Mrs Bryan, wearing an ivory dress by Benjamin Roberts, said: “The day has been fabulous and it’s all gone so quickly but everybody has had a great time.”

Her 26-year-old husband said he felt calm at the altar but will never forget seeing his girl walking up the aisle.

“I wasn’t nervous and when she arrived she just looked stunning,” he said.

Looking proudly on were the bride’s mum and dad Rosemarie and Richard Griffiths and Ben’s parents Delphine and Keith Bryan.

Mrs Griffiths said: “They just look the perfect couple and look so good together.

“They are so happy together. It’s wonderful, the whole day has been wonderful,” added Mrs Bryan.

After the wedding, Mr Bryan, a former pupil of Chantry High School, Martley, and installation manager for Vodafone and his wife, a former Bishop Perowne High School pupil now working as a senior receptionist at a city doctor’s surgery, travelled by classic car to the reception.

The couple who recently moved to Churchill Avenue, Droitwich, enjoyed a wedding breakfast of leek and potato soup, a beef main course and Baileys cheesecake and cheese and biscuits.

The couple stayed the night at the hotel before jetting off for a fortnight’s honeymoon in Tenerife.