The countdown is on for Leuchars couple Laura Miller and Rhys Corbin as they prepare to tie the knot this weekend – after winning their wedding thanks to Tayside children’s charity The Archie Foundation.
The charity ran a Win Your Wedding competition in 2022, with competitors asked to raise as much cash as possible in exchange for winning a wedding!
The pair decided to offer themselves out as a ‘Handy Family’, taking on any odd jobs in return for a donation to their fundraising pot.
They spent the summer gardening, doing DIY, painting and organising tuck shops and a barbecue event, raising a total of £2,500 and securing their big day as a result.
Now they are preparing to get hitched this Saturday, May 11 at the Woodlands Hotel in Broughty Ferry, Dundee which has donated the wedding package, and celebrate with their children, seven-year-old Sophia and two-year-old Samantha.
Around 95 friends and family will attend the wedding, with a further 40 guests joining the evening reception.
32-year-old Laura said: “We knew we wanted to get married but there was always something else to do or to focus on. We can’t wait to finally become Mr and Mrs on Saturday – it’s been a long time coming and if it wasn’t for The Archie Foundation it wouldn’t be happening.
“We saw the competition details on social media and figured, why not? Even if we didn’t win, The Archie Foundation would still benefit from any fundraising we did. As parents of young children, we can really relate to the incredible support the charity offers families.”
The pair have been together for 12 years, thanks to an introduction by Rhys’s sister. Although the couple hit it off immediately, their relationship started on an unconventional footing. Rhys was serving in the armed forces, based in Oxford while Laura lived in Fife, so they began a long-distance relationship.
Two years later, 36-year-old Rhys left the army and made his way north, taking the couple’s relationship from long-distance to living together. Over the next 10 years the couple focused on enjoying time together, building their family and creating a fun and loving home.
They got engaged and dreamed of getting married but over the years other priorities always took precedence.
Rhys, a dialysis technician at Ninewells Hospital, added: “The competition was too good a chance to pass up. Without it there was no chance we would be able to get married in 2024 and working at the hospital I have seen first-hand the good that The Archie Foundation does across Tayside, as well as the North-east and the Highlands.”
Not ones to do things by halves, the couple's fundraising efforts came at a busy time in their lives, having welcomed baby Samantha to the family just eight weeks earlier - but this didn’t deter them from their fundraising efforts.
Laura explained: “I was on maternity leave from my job as an event planner. It was an easy task to use my planning skills to help us figure out how to raise money for The Archie Foundation.
“As well as doing odd jobs for people which ranged from gardening, DIY and painting we also ran multiple tuck shops in Craigtoun Country Park and hosted a barbecue at a local bar – to name just a few of the fundraising activities we undertook.”
Paula Cormack, chief executive of The Archie Foundation, said “We’re grateful to Laura and Rhys for their impressive fundraising efforts. The money will make such a difference to the children and families we support in Tayside. I’m also looking forward to seeing the photos of their big day as they finally get to tie the knot and we are also incredibly grateful to the suppliers who have donated their specialist services to make sure the big day goes without a hitch.”
Laura will be piped down the aisle to meet Rhys by piper Glen Kelly, also waiting excitedly at the end of the isle will be their celebrant Darren Handy who is eager to share the couple’s fun, sarcastic and light-hearted love story!
The groom’s party is being outfitted by The Kilt Company, while the bridal party’s make-up will be provided by Leonie Make-Up Artist and their hair will be styled by Hair by Darlene, who have all donated their services free of charge.
Charivari chairs and room décor will be provided by Celebre Weddings and Events to match the greens and gold theme chosen by the couple, all tied together with a three-tier cake thanks to JM Bakery. The party will continue into the small hours courtesy of entertainment by JD Music.
The couple’s wedding day will be captured from start to finish by Derek Gerrard Photography as well as a videographer from Ido Videos.
Laura and Rhys are keen to continue their fundraising efforts and plan to have options for their guests to donate to The Archie Foundation on the day.
Laura said: “We’d like to thank all the companies who have donated their goods and services to The Archie Foundation. Quite simply, without them, we wouldn’t be getting married this year. We’re both incredibly excited and looking forward to sharing our special day with many of our friends and family.
“It seems only fitting to continue fundraising for The Archie Foundation at the wedding. It’s our way of saying thank you to the charity for helping us to achieve our dream of getting married.”
After the wedding, the newlyweds will enjoy a mini break on the West Coast, with plans for a holiday to Italy later in the year.
All money raised by Laura and Rhys was donated to The Archie Foundation, which provides support, including financial grants, parents’ accommodation and specialist equipment, to make visits to hospital a little easier and more comfortable for young patients.
For more details about the impactful work of The Archie Foundation, visit https://archie.org/