A YOUNG couple are celebrating after winning a £6,000 dream wedding package from Warminster School.

Maria Wright and Joseph O’Neill, from Warminster, will now start planning their wedding on October 23 next year.

The lucky pair were one of seven couples shortlisted for the wedding package, which includes the venue hire.

Miss Wright said: “We received the news that we had won on my birthday and it was so exciting to finally come and visit Warminster School and start planning. October 23 2021 can’t come soon enough!”

Mr O’Neill added: “Being gifted a Warminster wedding is a beautiful way to celebrate the hard work Maria does for the community of Warminster, both with the NHS and for W.A.G. in her free time.”

Warminster School organised the competition to donate the wedding package to a well-deserving local NHS worker who wanted to tie the knot with their partner this year.

As an NHS key worker for Sarum Community Mental Health Trust, Miss Wright instinctively recognised the impact the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown would have on members of her own community in Warminster.

Understanding the implications for vulnerable people during such a stressful time, Maria jumped into action and helped to set up the Warminster Action Group.

W.A.G. provides help to those that need it most; from picking up prescriptions, checking in on the elderly, or a much-needed dog walk.

The group has been such an enormous help to the Warminster community, Maria decided to help keep it running even after life has returned to normal.

Mr O’Neill is hugely proud of the tremendous part his fiancee has played over the past few months.

He said: “Maria has been splitting her time working full-time for the NHS and spending the remainder running W.A.G, which includes organising the other volunteers, and creating flyers and posters.

Warminster School’s headmaster, Matt Williams said: “Our Events & Wedding Team found this incredibly tough – it was always going to be difficult selecting an overall winner.

“The decision has been so tough to make with so many truly deserving winners; we are proud of them all and their contribution they have made, and continue to make, as they carry out their valuable jobs amongst our community. We thank them all.

“Very many congratulations to Maria and Joe, but commiserations also to our final six deserving couples - we invite them to get in touch with us as we are keen to help each of them, in any way we can, realise their perfect day”.

The six other couples shortlisted were Korrianne and Sean from Melksham; Sally and Les from Nunney near Frome; Sophie and Alastair from Warminster; Naomi and Dominic from Melksham; Rhiannon and Rory from Warminster, and Tara and Matthew from Trowbridge.

The prize also includes a stunning wedding film courtesy of Wedding Balloon Films and photography by local firm David Wiltshire Photography.