A GREENOCK couple say it’s a ‘dream come true’ to win the Tele’s £5,000 wedding competition.

Alana Douglas and her fiancè Stephen Hendry are ecstatic after they clinched a plush package at the lovely Lynnhurst Hotel in Johnstone, courtesy of award-winning owners Manorview.

The couple, of Wren Road, who are both aged 26, can’t wait to tie the knot.

Alana, said: “I was so excited when I found out we’d won.

“My mum Bernadette and my wee boy Alfie were with me and we all started jumping up and down.

“When I phoned Stephen, he couldn’t believe it.”

Alana, who is studying to be a nurse at the University of the West of Scotland while working for a care agency and Stephen, who works for vehicle emergency firm 911 Recovery, first locked eyes on each other when they were teenagers and romance soon blossomed.

Alana said: “We were 19 when we met through friends.

“There’s only six weeks between us.

“Stephen proposed on Christmas Day five years ago.

“He gave me presents marked one to 15 and on each present there was a tag with a wee clue as to what was inside.

“When I got to present number 14, there was a ring inside and Stephen got down on his knee to propose.

“I then opened present number 15 which was the DVD ‘The Five Year Engagement’ which he got as a joke.

“He must be psychic though as that’s us just five years engaged!”

The couple hope to say ‘I do’ next year with their three-year-old son Alfie by their side.

Alana said: “Two days after Stephen proposed I found out I was pregnant with Alfie so the wedding plans were put on the back burner.

“But I wouldn’t change anything for the world.

“I’m over the moon to win the competition as being a student there’s no way we could’ve afforded it.

“Alfie is going to be our page boy — I can’t wait to see him in his kilt.”

Alana says the Lynnhurst Hotel is her dream venue.
She said: “The hotel is absolutely beautiful.”

The couple say they will be forever indebted to everyone who voted for them over the past few months.

She said: “My family were voting but I don’t know who else voted — I would love to know.

“We want to thank everyone who voted for us.”

Alana and Stephen are now busy planning for their big day.

She added: “Alfie said to me ‘mum I’ve got you a present’ and gave me a wedding planning book, which was lovely.

“We can’t wait to get married now.”

A record 13,500 votes were cast in this year’s contest and Alana and Stephen won the competition after securing 3,928 votes.

In second place were fellow contestants Lindsay and Scott on 3,333 votes, while Donna and James were in third place with 2,170 votes.

Tele editor Brian Hossack said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with how popular our wedding competition has become.

“We’d like to thank everyone who took part and voted this year, along with our friends at Manorview for offering such a brilliant prize at the Lynnhurst.

“I’m sure Alana and Stephen will have a wonderful wedding there.”