Meet the couples in line to win £6k wedding

In December, more than 40 couples wrote in to Dudley registrars in a bid to be chosen for the win-a-wedding competition, which would celebrate the April opening of the Grade II former Lye and Wollescote Chapels, which has undergone a £1.2million renovation as the stylish Thomas Robinson Building and will now become the new registration office for civil ceremonies.

Whilst Natalie has suffered with health issues, she said Chris has 'changed her life', helping her to overcome her battle with anorexia, which has left her with arthritis in her hip. She said: "Chris is my rock when I am in pain."

Now that number has been whittled down to just four couples, serving soldier Paul O'Connor, aged 31 and Amy Sibley aged 21, who suffers from dwarfism, Natasha Stanley, aged 25, and Richard Massey, aged 27 of Upper Gornal, who have raised nearly £5,000 for charity after the loss of their baby son, Becca D'Cruze, aged 28 and Matthew Bailey, aged 26, of Dudley, who want to kindly donate their wedding savings to charity and Natalie Davies, aged 30 of Pensnett who struggles with health issues and Chris Williams, aged 27 of Wednesbury.

And who wins is down to the public, who can vote on the winner.

As part of the package the winning couple will get a wedding breakfast for 40 guests at The Copthorne Hotel, Waterfront, Brierley Hill, a free makeover for the bride and a wedding gown of the bride's choice up to the value of £1,000 from Georgina Scott Bridal Shop, a two-tier sponge wedding cake and arriving at the Thomas Robinson Building in style on April 2 in a 1933 Rolls Royce Sedanca de Ville, provided by Ray of Cradley, with up to 250 photographs capturing the day by Midland Photographic.

Dudley Mayor, Councillor Steve Waltho, said: "We were so pleased with the number of couples who took the time to write in and tell us their stories. It was a tough decision to whittle them down to a final four who all deserve to win this wedding. I hope people will support them and make one lucky couple very happy by voting for them.

They say it was a 'sheer miracle' that brought them both together, as Amy grew up believing she would never fall lucky in love.

She said:

"Paul risks life and limb for our country, fighting in both Afghanistan and Iraq. As for me, I was born with many complications including Achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism."

Walking down the aisle will be excruciatingly painful for Amy, due to the numerous surgical procedures she has undergone.

"It's also a great way to open up the fantastic venue that will be the Thomas Robinson Building. It allows the authority to expand it's venues, as I think at the moment we only have Priory Park as an appropriate wedding venue.

"It's a great competition and something which has captured the borough's attention with four great and compelling couples."

Now it is down to a public vote, who have up until midnight on January 13 to decide who will win and become the first couple to tie the knot, which they can do here www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/living/ marriages/win-a-wedding/

The winner will be announced at noon on Thursday January 14 at the Thomas Robinson Building, in Chapel Street, Lye.

Built in 1879 the building is made up of two Victorian Gothic-style chapels, which will house the registration office in one and a new wedding venue the other, holding marriage parties in the region of 40 people.

The £1 million refurbishment has been carried out by the West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, which owns the buildings and secured money from the Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from Dudley Council.

The chapels have been closed for more than 20 years, last used in 1993, after falling into disrepair, but community campaigners had long hoped to see the imposing buildings restored to its former glory.

Group chairman of West Midlands Historic Buildings Trust, John Woodall had previously told the Express & Star in November he was delighted with the response from the public and the 'project had only been made possible by fantastic community support and determination over many years.'

Trust members have spent more than 10 years developing the scheme proposals which has seen fundraisers, architects, specialist heritage contractors and community workers bring the building back into use.

The council hopes it will help to fill the gap left since the former register office in Stourbridge closed in 2011 with the sale of the Crown Centre as part of the Tesco development.

They have recently saved up and 'finally' been able to purchase their first house together, and are now looking to complete the next step of their journey together by tying the knot. The couple love spending time together, enjoying cosy nights in with good film.

Natasha Stanley, aged 25 and Richard Massey, 27 of Upper Gornal have gone through a number of miscarriages and heartbreak after Natasha fell pregnant with their son Corey last year.

At his five month scan, Corey was diagnosed with multiple heart defects and given an extremely low chance of survival by doctors. After fighting to give Corey every chance, he tragically passed away after two open heart surgeries 30 hours after his birth in May.