A couple who were about to fly abroad for a family holiday had the whole plane clapping after some positive news.
Chelsea Dalton and Ben Johns have been together for more than 10 years after they met at a trampolining club. After proposing in September 2013, the couple could not wait to plan their big day and the rest of their lives together.
But Chelsea said that one thing came after another and their wedding planning had to take a back seat. She told the ECHO: "I always knew I wanted a big wedding and wouldn't settle for anything less.
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"But then we had a little boy and we bought a property and were paying for cars and we couldn't afford to save for a wedding. We knew it would come one day but as time went on we had more responsibilities.
"We both work for the council and I look after my dad full time, he had a stroke that left him severely debilitated and struggles with daily care and my uncle was diagnosed with cancer."
Chelsea has recently been announced as the winner of the ECHO's Win a Wedding competition. Chelsea, who has previously applied for Don't Tell the Bride, was a clear winner after many were moved by her story.
The competition gave couples the chance to win a helping hand towards their dream wedding worth more than £9,500.
The winning couple will receive the Isla Gladstone Twilight wedding package which includes venue hire from 5pm, wedding ceremony (conservatory or bandstand weather permitting), a welcome drink of Bucks Fizz, 3 canapes per person for 50 guests, a toast drink to the happy couple, a choice of 4 menus from the buffet selection based on 80 guests, white or black table linen as well as a midnight bar.
Chelsea added: "I didn't think we'd win, I knew we had a lot of tokens because our family were rooting for us but there are a lot more shops in Liverpool than Wirral.
"We were on the plane about to go on holiday when the phone rang. I was in the toilet with my son, holding the plane up when Ben screamed across saying we'd won and everyone just started clapping. It completely slipped my mind.
"I kind of freaked, I was overwhelmed to see everyone on the plane clapping for us, everyone was shocked."
Chelsea and Ben will be getting married on August 27 at the Isla Gladstone for their dream day worth over £9,500. She told the ECHO: "He proposed to me on my 20th birthday, we didn't have much back then, both in minor wage jobs and he took me to the top of Blackpool tower.
"We just can't wait. I'd like to thank the ECHO for the opportunity, I feel like if we didn't have the competition and didn't enter it, we wouldn't have managed to get round to doing it at all."
Also involved:
Venue Decor - The Celebration Company
Photographer - Jon Lingwood Photography
Selfie Mirror Booth - Liverpool Selfie Mirror
Toastmaster - Dave McGrath MC
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