Postman and his fiance win Bride of Kent competition

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FOUR couples have won top-of-the-range wedding packages in Kent Regional News and Media's Bride of Kent competition.

They were presented with their vouchers at a packed Wedding Experience Show at the Detling County Show Ground, near Maidstone, on Sunday.

Student mental health nurse Charlene "Charlie" Terry, 24, of Hawkinge, Folkestone, and Hythe postman Andrew Hayward, 37, won a reception for up to 50 guests at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel and Resort in Maidstone for May 1 next year.

It was presented by the hotel's Kirsty Smith.

Andrew said: "I used to work on P&O Ferries and bumped into an old friend I had not seen for 10 years and was invited for a birthday drink.

"At 7.05pm that evening an amazing event happened in my life. In walked Charlene who was single, sexy, young and beautiful."

Self-employed car valeter Gerry Turner, 30, and Justine Marco, 21, of Aylesham, near Canterbury, won a bridal gown from Karen Moore of Bridal Wardrobe of Rochester; gents suit hire from Keith Emery of KK Wedding Services of Herne Bay; wedding flowers from Amanda Brady of Maidstone firm Distinctly Floral and a fitness package from David Lloyd Leisure of Maidstone.

Mum Justine, who gave birth to the couple's son Mackenzie four months ago and has another three-year-old son called Jack, said: "Meeting Gerry was the best thing that ever happened to me. He is my best friend and soul mate and I love him very much.

"We have just had our first baby and would love to get married but we don't have much money and with the credit crunch it would have been impossible without this."

NHS administrator Emma Chamberlain, 25, who works at St Bart's Hospital, Rochester, and joiner Daniel Hogben, 29, who works in Faversham, come from Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne.

They won wedding photography from Folkestone female photographer Julie Larner, wedding car hire from Glen Rodbourne of Essential Limos, Medway, and a make-over for their reception room by Emma Jarvis of Medway's Essential Room and Dressing.

The couple first met on the internet on a dating website but never met until a year later.

Emma said: "I was at a friend's birthday party who turned out to be Daniel's cousin, who was also at the party. We started chatting and have been together every since. You won't find a couple more suited to each other."

Pensions administrator Rachel Holding, 27, and graphic designer John Laker, 30, from Thornhill Place, Maidstone, won a honeymoon cruise down the Nile from Ella Avanzato of EPA Travel.

Rachel said: "We first met through friends in 1999 but were both in our teens and too young for commitment then.

"But when I met John again in 2004 I knew he was the one and only for me - and always had been."

The couple had sold their Renault Megane car and taken in a lodger to try to save up enough money for their own dream wedding.

Originally nine couples were selected after we launched our search for the Bride of Kent and readers of Kent Regional News and Media, publishers of this newspaper, were asked to vote for their favourite.

There were more than 230 exhibitors at the Wedding Experience Show, run by Sittingbourne entrepreneur Tina Green, including bridal gowns, rings, discos, bands, wedding cars, chocolate fountains, photographers, toast masters and venues.

The Wedding Experience will return in October.