Frankie & Benny's hosts free wedding worth £10k

Lovebirds Darren and Anneka are celebrating after tying the knot in a free wedding worth £10,000, courtesy of Italian-American restaurant chain Frankie & Benny’s.

Just in time for St Valentine’s Day, Frankie & Benny’s announced they were offering the opportunity for a couple to win a free wedding and were swamped with applications.

After careful consideration, the winners were chosen and the lucky couple were Darren, 36, an ecologist from Chesterfield, and Aneeka, 38, from Ashton-Under-Lyne, who works at a secondary school.

The couple met on a dating website in 2018 and their love blossomed over the following years. The pandemic kept them apart but love conquers all and on 22 February 2022, Darren proposed to Aneeka at a beauty spot where they both enjoy long walks.

Cupids at Frankie & Benny’s spent hours on Saturday night (11 February) getting the reception ready at the restaurant in Batley, Yorkshire. The team decorated the venue in readiness for the Sunday wedding which included food, drink, a DJ, a photographer, a live band with a saxophonist and the special celebrity guest, James Argent, who acted as the officiant.

The spectacular event, called With Love From Frankie’s, included the tailored ceremony for the lucky couple and 20 friends or family members.

Anneka says: "Frankie & Benny’s went above and beyond to make our special day seamless and unforgettable and it brought two families together who had no yet met. The service and food was flawless, no one went home hungry! Everyone went home with a huge piece of cake, smile and fond memories, especially us."

"It's a story for our relationship. We are going to have that forever, we'll always laugh and smile about that day," adds Darren.

Sasha Storey, Frankie & Benny’s head of brand, comments: "At Frankie & Benny’s, we believe nothing should get in the way of love! We understand that with the current cost of living crisis it may be hard for couples and families to prioritise paying for a wedding when disposable income has become so squeezed. We were thrilled to help take that pressure off and throw an all-out wedding and reception, bringing families and friends together in true Frankies style!"

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