From tight budget to dream wedding The Advertiser Bride Of the Year 2008 is Miss Amanda Aitchison (23) of Albion Street, Newark. She was crowned at a ceremony at Southwell Racecourse on Sunday. Miss Aitchison won a selection of prizes worth thousands of pounds for her wedding on November 1. She will marry Mr Christopher Williams (27) at Newark Register Office. A reception at the Sir Stuart Goodwin Pavilion, Newark Showground, will follow. Miss Aitchison said: “All the girls were fabulous and I had an idea in my mind who was going to win — I really didn’t think it was going to be me. It really is an honour. “My fiance had tears in his eyes, he looked so proud of me. “Some of the questions I answered were things that he had never heard me say before about him. He completes me and we are made for each other.” The prizes include a wedding planning service, a bridal image consultation package, a convertible Beetle wedding car and wedding photography. Miss Aitchison, who was chosen from nine finalists, said: “Before winning, it was a case of a strict, tight budget and anything left over would be spent on luxuries. The fact that we can now have our dream wedding is amazing.” Miss Aitchison, a receptionist at Specsavers Opticians, Newark, met Mr Williams three years ago at the Fox and Crown, Appletongate, where he worked as a bar man. The first time they met, Miss Aitchison fell asleep on him. Mr Williams, now an electrical inspection engineer, proposed on their first New Year’s Eve together, at the Fox and Crown, six months after they got together. Each finalist answered questions from Julia Stanley, of Stanley’s Model Management. Miss Aitchison said: “It was nerve-racking but there was a wonderful atmosphere, everyone in the audience was absolutely lovely.” She received prizes from Peppermint Dreams, Healthier UK, Honey In The Soul, Silver Tiaras, Berketex Brides, Graham Would Photography, A and R Shepherd Photography, Kevin Turton Photography, Hats On Heads, Lashes Beauty, Trust Flora and Beetle Days Cars. Male vocalist Mr Pete Ward will perform at the reception, a disco will be provided by Sound Storm Disco, and Distinction Events will supply a children’s creche or party for the wedding day. The runner-up was primary school teacher Miss Emma Vaughan (28) of Spring Lane, Balderton. She will marry Mr Peter Dowse on July 26 at St Giles’ Church, Balderton. The couple met five years ago while Miss Vaughan was out celebrating her first teaching job. Mr Dowse proposed on Valentine’s Day. Third was Miss Gemma Pykett (26) of Hudson Way, Grantham, who is also a primary school teacher. She will marry Mr Jonathan Wand at Sedgebrook Church on August 2. The couple met at work and Mr Wand proposed at Edinburgh Castle. The judges were the Advertiser’s marketing director, Mrs Rachel Brown, and Adrianne Wright and Susannah Dolan, of Distinction Events. The event, in a marquee at Southwell Racecourse, also included a fashion show by Berketex Brides, a performance by Mr Ward, trade stands, and a talk on wedding planning.