A FUNDRAISING raffle offering “a wedding for a pound” has seen the perfect ending to a 12-year wait for one couple.

Robert Hallett and Julie Stickland got together 13 years ago and 12 months into the relationship he got down on one knee in a Newquay hotel and to his delight his new sweetheart said yes.

Julie thought “great we’ve been together a year and will be getting married after two,” but two children and 12 years later the Puddletown couple were still waiting due to the expense of getting hitched.

Robert’s dad Stan bought them two tickets for the fundraising draw for Dorset County Hospital’s mammography appeal and two hours after giving them to Julie she was left speechless when their names were pulled out of the hat.

Julie, 35, said: “We’ve been talking about it for a long time but couldn’t really afford it as having two children takes your money.

“After giving us the tickets I don’t think I ever dreamt it would actually happen. For the first time in my life I was speechless.”

The wedding for a pound draw offered the lucky couple everything from the rings, flowers and venue to the cars, cake, reception, photographer and groom’s suit.

The couple, from Butt Close in Puddletown, even get five hours’ help from a wedding planner.

Julie said their daughters Kacey, nine, and Zoe, seven, are already excited about the big day.

She said: “I’ve always wanted to get married. We looked at getting married and even quietly it was still going to cost far too much and every girl’s dream is to have a big wedding but we couldn’t afford it.

“We got further down the line and thought ‘it’s not going to happen’.”

Robert remembers getting down on one knee 12 years ago.

“We got the value out of the engagement ring,” he joked. “My dad bought two tickets not thinking it would actually happen. When you buy a lottery ticket you don’t expect to win but you hope.”

Robert and Julie hope to marry next spring.

Special prize

STAN Hallett bought two tickets for the prize draw from Goldcrest Jewellers in Hardye Arcade in Dorchester.

Donna and Neil Strudwick, the owners of Goldcrest, came up with the idea of the wedding for a pound raffle in aid of Dorset County Hospital’s mammography appeal after helping in a previous auction for it.

They are donating two nine-carat handmade gold rings and said the other sponsors “bit their arm off” to help when they were approached. They include Jacaranda florists in Weymouth, Bennett’s Water Gardens for the ceremony, Kate Chastey the wedding planner and LA Brides for the dress.

Donna said: “This could not have happened to a better couple or a more deserving couple.

“It was not just someone who thought ‘we’ll get a wedding out of nothing’ but there’s a genuine and good story behind it.”

The happy couple will be transported by S J Executive Cars, enjoy an Arty Party Cake and have their reception at The Old Ship Inn in Upwey.

East Side Barbers on Portland will do the bridegroom’s hair, with ID Hair of Dorchester looking after the bride.

Greg Cameron Day will photograph the big day and the groom’s suit will come from Moss Bros in Dorchester. The Mammography Appeal, backed by the Dorset Echo, aims to raise £500,000 for a new digital scanner for the hospital with more than £410,000 already raised.