A Catch Up With 2024 Prize Winners Jamie & Courtney
Jamie and Courtney are continuing to celebrate as the proud winners of the Win A £30,000 Wedding competition at the Wedding Journal Show in October 2024. We caught up with the couple as they began their wedding planning journey, guided by our fantastic prize partners.
Currently at the halfway mark before their big day in June 2026, Jamie and Courtney have already made impressive progress, especially considering they welcomed their second child, daughter Charlotte, just five months ago. Here’s a glimpse into their exciting wedding preparations.
Courtney shared, ‘I’ve picked my dress and am due to collect it in October.’ Remarkably, just seven weeks after giving birth, she booked an appointment at Orchid Bridal Studio, tried on a stunning selection of dresses, and we can’t wait to see which one she’ll wear — Neil from Orchid told us it’s absolutely gorgeous on her!
In addition, Courtney is scheduled to begin skin treatments at Thérapie Clinic in Belfast this September. She’s planning to glow on her wedding day, starting with a hydrofacial, and we hope to catch up with her during her treatment to learn more about how it’s helping her prepare.
Jamie is also busy with his own plans, heading to Freddie Hatchet in January to select his wedding suit — and he’s especially excited because they have a bar in-store! The couple also plans to visit McWhirters in Newry to pick out their wedding rings around that time.
Their wedding vision is coming together beautifully, thanks to collaborations with Fairytales Weddings & Events. The prize package has helped them secure their décor, DJ, and floral arrangements. Courtney mentioned, ‘I didn’t realise those were included in the package – it’s saved us quite a bit on entertainment and flowers.’ She also praised Fairytales’ use of faux floral arrangements for bouquets, buttonholes, and corsages, which is a great eco-friendly option.
To capture their special day, Aidan from Tait Young Wedding Photography & Film has been in touch. They’re planning to incorporate drone footage and a 360-degree camera in their reception to make their wedding memories even more special. They’re also considering adding cold sparks machines for a spectacular effect.
Here’s a quick recap of the 2024 prize partners that are helping Jamie and Courtney bring their dream wedding to life:
WIN Wedding Photography & Videography From Tait Young
Tait Young Wedding Photo & Film is providing a photography and videography package as part of the Win A 30K Wedding.
Tait Young Wedding Photo & Film specialises in crafting unique and creative wedding films and photos, capturing the essence and beauty of every moment. With a dedicated team of three camera operators and multiple cameras, they ensure comprehensive coverage of the entire event, from the heartfelt vows to the joyous celebrations.
The winning couple will receive a comprehensive package that captures their day from start to finish from getting ready until the first dance! As well as photography, the winners will also receive a full-length wedding video and highlight reel.
What sets Tait Young apart is their commitment to creativity and innovation in wedding photography and videography. They go beyond traditional approaches, employing cutting-edge techniques and artistic vision to produce stunning visuals that truly reflect the love and emotion of the occasion.
Their skilled team understands that every couple is unique, and they tailor their approach to suit individual preferences and styles. Whether it’s a grand ceremony or an intimate gathering, Tait Young strives to capture the essence of the day in a way that resonates with each couple’s personality and story.
With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Tait Young Wedding Photo & Film creates timeless keepsakes that couples will cherish for a lifetime. From cinematic highlight reels to intimate portraits, they ensure that every image and frame reflects the magic of the moment, preserving memories that will be treasured for generations to come.
Freddie Hatchet is providing groomswear as part of the Win A 30K Wedding package.
Freddie Hatchet is one of the few suit hire providers that actually source and manufacture its own range of suits. They take pride in sourcing only the finest fabrics from across the globe before having their suits made by some of Europe’s top tailoring manufacturers.
In their stores you will find suits that simply cannot be found anywhere else with all of their ranges exclusive to their own label. Plus, with over 100 years of combined experience in wedding tailoring, the team bring unrivaled expertise to choosing the looks you wear on your special day.
Freddie Hatchet can offer grooms a selection of matching suits to either buy or hire. You could hire the suits for your groomsmen, but treat yourself and design your own suit with their personal tailoring service. Their ‘personal’ tailoring service offers the range of choice and personalisation normally associated with ‘Made To Measure’ tailoring but is regarded as being more budget friendly.
All of their personal tailored suits are made from their own house pattern, but after that your choices are only limited by your own imagination! Pick from their extensive range of store cloths or browse through the sample books from Italy’s top mills such as Vitale Barberis and E-Thomas. Once you’ve picked the cloth, you can then choose from a range of buttons and linings to create a truly unique garment. Although do be aware that you need to allow up to 12 weeks for all Personal Tailoring orders.
With stores in Belfast, Cookstown and Dublin, the Freddie Hatchet offers an array of exclusive suits, shirts, and shoes, unavailable anywhere else, plus their hospitality is unmatched – you’ll want a beer every time you go suit shopping!
