by Helen Fairley

This happy couple are probably feeling a bit nervous today as they have just 24 hours to go until their dream wedding.

Gemma Payne and Ryan Clarke, of Buckland Road, Maidstone, beat 10 other couples in the final of the KM Group’s Win Your Perfect Wedding Day competition.

The prize, valued at about £13,000, includes a ceremony and reception up to the value of £10,000, at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park, a three-tier cake provided by Cake!, pictures by Yvette Craig Photography LLP, a wedding dress from Canterbury Brides and flowers by JL Floristry Design.

The ceremony will be provided free of charge by A Kentish Ceremony.

Now, nine months after they scooped the prize, their dream day has almost arrived.

Gemma, 24, a teaching assistant at Sandling Primary School, said: "I am very excited. I just hope that everything comes together tomorrow."

The couple met in 2004, at the University of Chichester. Ryan, 25, a food manager at Marks & Spencer in Week Street, Maidstone, was just finishing his course as Gemma was starting. A three-year, long-distance relationship followed.