Bride of the year 2009

Oct 2 2008 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TODAY we’re launching a search for The Examiner’s Beautiful Bride of 2009.

Our fantastic competition has a prize package, worth over £3,000, which includes a wedding gown, pre-nuptial spa break and photography on the special day.

The winner will be able to choose a wedding dress up to the value of £1,000 from the new La Fleur bridal and floral shop in Huddersfield and her wedding will be captured for posterity by specialist photographers Helen Lacey and Melody Youle.

We’ll also arrange hair and beauty appointments so that our bride will be feeling good and looking great for her big day.

As an extra-special treat for our winner the country’s top destination spa, Ragdale Hall in Leicestershire, is offering a two-day relaxing and pampering break for two to ease away the stress of wedding planning.

Our bride will have the chance to rehearse for her wedding with a make-over, including a hair consultation and styling at Rubens, Westgate, and make-up by The Pamper Rooms, Linthwaite. We’ll photograph the winner in a selection of gowns to help her choose one for the wedding day.

Also in the prize package will be a bespoke hand-made tiara from Mysterium in Standard House, Huddersfield, and a manicure and pedicure at The Pamper Rooms.

La Fleur, about to open in Northumberland Street, sells fresh flowers, bouquets and arrangements with a modern twist. The shop’s bridal room stocks designer gowns, wedding dresses and evening wear in a full range of sizes – up to 32 or even 36 – at competitive prices.

Owner Alisa Devlin says she will also be selling a specially selected collection of bridal and evening accessories.

Photographers Helen and Melody are from the Holme Valley and first met while still at school. They got together again recently, discovered they had both trained in photography and decided to set up their own all-girl wedding business, Helen and Melody Wedding Photography.

They offer their services for a full day, with a 40-shot display album of 10in by 8in photographs for a package price of £1,500. They will also be photographing our winner on her make-over day.

Weddings can be both joyful and stressful at the same time. That’s why our winner will be invited to take a friend to luxurious Ragdale Hall, voted Best European Spa, before the big day.

The Overnight Revives Break for two in a superior room will include breakfast in bed, as well as lunch and dinner in the spa’s highly-acclaimed dining room, a treatment each and full use of the facilities.

Ragdale not only has a beautiful indoor swimming pool but has also recently opened a luxurious thermal spa with heated outdoor lounging pool and a series of water and heat experiences. The normal cost of the break would be £388.

Last but not least our winner will choose a tiara to complete her bridal outfit, made to order at Mysterium, where designers use a wide range of materials, from Swarovski crystals and pearls to feathers to create tiaras and fascinators.

If you’d like to enter our competition you must be engaged to be married next year and prepared to be featured in the Examiner.

Please write, giving full details about yourself and your intended and enclosing a photograph to: Beautiful Bride, Features Department, Huddersfield Examiner, Queen Street South, Huddersfield HD1 3DU. Or email hilarie.stelfox@examiner.co.uk

Tell us why you should be our bride of the year.

Readers may also nominate someone else for the prize, but should ask for their permission first.

The closing date for this competition is one week today. Employees of Trinity Mirror and their families are not eligible to enter. There are no cash alternatives to prizes.

For further information on La Fleur and the Bridal Room, call 07769 740471; The Pamper Rooms on 01484 840440; Mysterium on 01484 544223; Ragdale Hall on 01664 434831, www.ragdalehall.co.uk; Helen and Melody Wedding Photography on 07905 165151; Rubens on 01484 543221.