Couple announced as winners of Limavady hotel's £10,000 ‘Win a Wedding’ competition

A local couple has been announced as the winners of Roe Valley Resort’s highly anticipated Win a Wedding competition, securing their dream wedding celebration at the picturesque Limavady hotel and wedding venue.

The winning couple, Emma Agnew and Ben Glass, from Portglenone, were selected from hundreds of entries received from across Northern Ireland, with the prize offering a luxury wedding package worth up to £10,000 at the award-winning resort.

Set on a stunning 150-acre estate on the edge of Roe Valley Country Park, Roe Valley Resort provides an enchanting venue for weddings, with mature woodlands, riverside walks and sweeping parkland views creating the perfect backdrop for striking wedding photography and unforgettable celebrations.

The resort’s historic Georgian building adds a touch of regency romance, with bridal parties making their way through a grand entrance which evokes a hint of Bridgerton-style sophistication that sets Roe Valley apart as a unique destination for couples seeking a truly refined and elegant wedding experience.

It’s the perfect setting for couples like Emma and Ben, whose story is rooted in love, family connections, and time spent together. With its timeless charm and picturesque scenery, Roe Valley Resort offers surroundings that mirror the magic of their journey - from their first meeting to their engagement and now their wedding day, which is scheduled for 2027.

Emma and Ben’s love story began in 2017 at an unconventional Christmas work night out that brought together a group of down-to-earth steel yard workers and glamorous beauty therapists.

“For me, it was love at first sight,” Ben laughed. “Emma took a little more convincing.”

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After officially getting together in 2023, Ben proposed during a long-awaited, bucket-list trip the couple had dreamed about for years as avid country music fans - visiting Nashville and Las Vegas.

The moment was unforgettable - despite a last-minute dash back to the hotel when Ben realised he’d forgotten the engagement ring - and planned with the help of a local coordinator to ensure every detail, from the timing to the location, was perfect. Emma recalls being completely surprised when she arrived at what she believed was a theatre show, only to be greeted by giant rooftop marquee letters spelling out ‘Marry Me’.

The couple say Roe Valley Resort held special meaning from the very beginning.

“Ben’s grandmother worked in the old house at the resort, and his mum’s family are from the nearby village of Ballykelly, so choosing Roe Valley felt incredibly personal,” Emma explained.

“We also loved that it’s a one-stop venue where all our guests can stay together, which is making planning so much easier.”

Finding out they had won the competition was an emotional moment. “When Roe Valley rang, I assumed it was bad news about the date we had in mind, or a payment request,” Ben said. “I rang back with my debit card ready - and instead was told we’d won. I genuinely thought it was a prank.”

After several missed calls from Ben to tell her the good news, Emma finally answered. “All we could do was scream down the phone at each other,” she added. “It honestly feels like it was meant to be.”

With their date now secured, the couple have already begun planning, booking their humanist celebrant first, followed by their photographer, videographer, DJ, florist, and hair and makeup team. Their vision for the day is “traditional with a contemporary sense of sophistication” - simple, elegant, classy and meaningful.

While they’re excited for every moment, Emma says she’s most looking forward to walking down the aisle, while Ben is eagerly anticipating their first look.

Offering advice to other couples beginning their wedding journey, the pair encourage early planning. “Once you have your date and venue, book your must-have suppliers straight away and prioritise the people you want to share the day with,” they said.

The couple’s wedding will take place following a period of major transformation at Roe Valley Resort, which is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound redevelopment as part of Galgorm Collection’s long-term investment strategy. This includes, next year, the unveiling of a Garden Pavilion Ceremony Room, a striking glass wedding ceremony space bathed in natural light and framed by landscaped gardens and views of Binevenagh, alongside the arrival of a new luxury adults-only spa, offering a tranquil retreat for wedding couples and guests alike.

Speaking about the competition win, Charlotte McLean, General Manager at Roe Valley Resort, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to announce Emma and Ben as the winners of our Win a Wedding competition. Their love story is incredibly special, and it’s wonderful to see such a strong local connection to Roe Valley Resort through Ben’s family history and ties to the area.

“As we enter an exciting new chapter for Roe Valley Resort, couples like Emma and Ben perfectly reflect the type of weddings we aim to host here - meaningful, personal and memorable. With the launch of our stunning new Garden Pavilion Ceremony Space next year, along with the introduction of our luxury adults-only spa, Roe Valley Resort is set to become one of Northern Ireland’s most sought-after wedding destinations. We cannot wait to work closely with Emma and Ben to bring the vision for their big day to life.”

Emma added: “With all the exciting developments coming to Roe Valley Resort, from the Garden Pavilion Ceremony Space to the adults-only spa, it really feels like the perfect place for our wedding. We’re thrilled to have our day here and believe Roe Valley is set to become Northern Ireland’s new wedding hotspot - it’s the ideal setting to make memories that will last a lifetime.”

To find out more about weddings at the venue visit Roe Valley Resort