THE woman who won her dream wedding in an Oxford Mail competition this week has thanked her sister for entering her in the competition.

Electrician Jamie Leach, 26, and his fiancee Kate Harvey, 23, won a £12,000 wedding at the finals of our Win Your Wedding competition on Tuesday.

Miss Harvey’s older sister Sophie Harvey had nominated the two, talking about the “sparkle” in her sister’s eyes since she had got engaged.

Last night, the 28-year-old beauty therapist said: “I would not be more pleased if it was me.

“It has been fantastic. It is amazing and Kate is over the moon.”

Sophie, of Westminster Way, Botley, added she entered Kate in the competition after learning about it at the Oxfordshire Wedding Show at Oxford Town Hall in March.

She said: “They make such a good match. They are just the right couple together. They are all round a really lovely couple.”

Kate, also of Botley, said: “I still can’t believe it, it hasn’t sunk in. We owe Sophie a lot. She is over the moon too, and has been texting me smiley faces every day.”

Kate said everyone had been excited to find out the news.

She said: “After we found out, we had a big family meal and then we went for a drink with Sophie and her boyfriend, so that was really nice.

“And Mum was so happy when she found out. As soon as we got out of the Town Hall, I phoned her and said ‘I hope you’re free on July 7 next year’. She was screaming and crying, we both were. My dad is really happy for us too.”

Miss Harvey said their win was entirely down to the hard work of their friends and family.

She said: “The whole family worked really hard, I know it took a lot of hard work and effort from them all.

“It is just the most amazing thing, we never would have been able to afford anything like this.

“Like everyone else our age, we have been saving up for a house and wedding, and couldn’t afford both.

“Now it’s like a pathway has been cleared, we can see the way forward. This is every girl’s dream.”

Mum Margaret said: “We are absolutely over the moon for them. When they got home, she flew up the drive, beeping the horn and ran in and gave us a big hug.

“We didn’t think they’d be able to get married for a long time.

“Everyone we know has been getting involved, asking me to pick them up copies of the Oxford Mail so they could vote.”

The entire day of their wedding, at Oxford Town Hall on July 7 next year, will be paid for – from the wedding reception, cake and dress to the suits, honeymoon flights, wedding car and photography.