Newlyweds Tara and Philip Marson tied the knot this weekend with a wedding package taken care of courtesy of our Win a Wedding competition.

Thanks to our partners the Holiday Inn Leeds-Bradford in Tong, and a host of local suppliers, they were able to enjoy the big day of their dreams with a wedding worth more than £5,000.

Wedding flowers, cake, a photographer and Mrs Marson’s all important dress all came as part of the prize.

Mrs Marson, a primary school teacher, and her new husband, who set up his own roofing firm, learned of their win in June last year and preparations have been under way ever since.

Despite yesterday’s bad weather, the Odsal couple said the wedding had been perfect.

Mrs Marson said: “It’s been absolutely amazing. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect, special day. Everything has run smoothly. It’s a day we will remember for the rest of our lives. It’s been really special. Even though it’s rained it’s still been perfect.”

Mr Marson said: “It’s been perfect, better than that. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.”

The couple, who were married at St Paul’s Church, in Wibsey, met at a Bradford Bulls match eight years ago and got engaged in 2009.

But as the recession hit and Mr Marson was faced with redundancy their wedding fund became emergency cash.

They were chosen by our readers to receive the prize after being nominated by Mr Marson’s sister Pauline, who said she had watched their love grow stronger despite everything life had thrown at them.

The couple, who recently bought a house together, will honeymoon at Windermere in the Lake District and are saving for a trip abroad next year.