The winning couple of this year’s Win Your Wedding Competition has compared the prize to winning the lottery.

After months of voting, James Shaw and Rebecca Sear from Falmouth scooped the most votes in the competition run by the Packet |in association with the Falmouth |Hotel.

They will now receive everything for their wedding on April 25 next year, including venue, outfits, cake and car.

All the couples discovered their fate at a wedding fair held at the Falmouth Hotel on Sunday.

Rebecca, 28, said: “It was really nerve-wracking. The drum roll seemed like it went on forever! We were full of doubt because we didn’t think we’d win at that point – we were named for us not to be called out. I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous.”

She described the feeling of winning as “unbelievable”, while James, 32, added: “It doesn’t seem real to start off with.”

Rebecca agreed: “It means the world. We would never have been able to do anything like this. It literally would have been a registry office I think.”

The couple, who have two young sons – two-year-old Ethan and Jacob, nine months – say the wedding will now complete their family.

“It’s probably the most important thing to us,” said Rebecca.

Both have sent their “heartfelt thank you” for all the support from their family and friends, saying: “It just means the absolute world to us. It’s made our little dreams come true.”

They also thanked the Packet and all the prize suppliers, saying: “We feel like we have won the lottery.”

The pair met while working for Carphone Warehouse, James in Cornwall and Rebecca in Exeter.

She used to travel down to see James every day before transferring branches after a few months.

James is now manager at Camborne while Rebecca, who is currently on maternity leave from managing Falmouth, is to transfer to Truro on her return.