A MAJOR advantage of being Bride of the Year is that you have help to sort out all those little hitches that could spoil the big day.

There are always problems organising a wedding, but when Mountstevens, the company providing the cake for our Bride of the Year went out of business the prospect of a wedding without a wedding cake was looming.

But unlike many other brides who found themselves in the same position, our 2002 Bride of the Year, Katrina Bennett, 25, was unconcerned.

She said: "The first I had heard about the problems with the cake was when the Evening Advertiser phoned me to tell me they had found another one.

"They said they had sorted it all out for me and got another cake.

"It was wonderful, I didn't have to think about it at all.

"I just feel sorry for the people who haven't got the paper behind them.

"There will be lots of people without cakes for their weddings."

Saving the day is Sugar Celebrations who were kind enough to provide a three-tier wedding cake with only two weeks notice.

The Faringdon Road cake business specialises in cakes for all occasions.

Sugar Celebrations also has a branch in Gloucester.

Sheila Peaple and Carol Stafford are partners in the business and this is the first year they have been involved in Bride of the Year.

Sheila said: "I run the shop and Carol looks after the cakes we both do whatever needs to be done. It was bit of a rush, but we will always help out when we can."

Katrina and her fianc David McCarron, 27, have chosen a three-tiered fruit cake, with a spray of roses on the top.

Carol will be customising the cake to suit the colour scheme of the wedding and a stand will be provided.

Sheila added: "They are a lovely couple and we are just happy to help out.

"You can't have a bride without a cake, can you?"