The wedding of the year is less than three months away, and the excitement is mounting.

Evening Advertiser Bride of the Year Lucy Griffin was welcomed with her family and future in-laws to the Goddard Arms in Old Town to discuss her lavish reception party.

The 18th century former coaching inn will host the celebration following Lucy's wedding to fianc Neil Zerebecki on August 2.

Dental nurse Lucy, 20, a former Kingsdown School pupil, said: "The Goddard Arms is special, with its ballroom and chandeliers. It's so traditional.

"It's such a big room that it accommodates all your friends and family too."

Neil, a customer service manager at Nationwide's Chippenham branch, said: "It's great to be able to come here and have another look around. It's really exciting." And for Lucy's parents, Linda, 48, and Tony, 52, the celebration will be doubly special.

Linda, of Vespasian Close, Coleview, said: "Tony and I had our wedding reception here 25 years ago. We were thrilled when we discovered they would be celebrating in the same place."

Neil's father, Martin, said the family had an inkling the couple would end up together.

He said: "They have known each other and been best friends for so long that we always used to joke they might get married.

"We are over the moon to see it come to fruition."

Lucy and Neil, from Covingham, are no strangers to the ivy-clad Goddard Arms, since it was there that they impressed the Bride of the Year judges in November, beating competition from 177 other couples to win the £8,000 wedding package.

The hotel also caters for people wanting a weekday wedding. The package costs £1,000 and includes a marriage ceremony, red carpet on arrival, bucks fizz reception, three-course lunch for 30 guests, evening buffet for 60 guests, sparkling wine with toast and a cake stand and knife. Couples who book this offer will receive discounts from the following wedding suppliers: Occasion Favours, Sharon Whitely, Mr Charles Menswear, George Lesley Flowers, Insight Photo-graphy and Video Services, and Jerhane Ghandour's tiaras. For details, call the Goddard Arms Hotel on Swindon 692313.