‘It was meant to be’: Portglenone couple win £10,000 dream wedding at Roe Valley Resort

Emma Agnew and Ben Glass from Portglenone, Co Antrim, winners of Roe Valley Resort’s £10,000 ‘Win a Wedding’ competition, pictured celebrating on a rooftop in Nashville, where Ben proposed during a bucket-list trip to the US. The County Antrim couple will host their dream wedding at Roe Valley Resort in 2027.

A County Antrim couple have been announced as the winners of Roe Valley Resort’s highly anticipated Win a Wedding competition, securing a luxury wedding package worth up to £10,000 at the award-winning Limavady resort.

Emma Agnew and Ben Glass, from Portglenone, were selected from hundreds of entries submitted from across Northern Ireland, earning them the chance to celebrate their wedding at Roe Valley Resort, set within a stunning 150-acre estate on the edge of Roe Valley Country Park.

Known for its mature woodland, riverside walks and sweeping parkland views, the resort offers a picturesque backdrop for wedding photography and celebrations. Its historic Georgian building adds a sense of regency romance, with a grand entrance that evokes a touch of Bridgerton-style sophistication, helping to set Roe Valley apart as a refined and elegant wedding destination.

For Emma and Ben, the venue carries deep personal meaning. Their story is rooted in family connections, shared experiences and a journey that began in 2017 at an unconventional Christmas work night out.

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

The couple officially got together in 2023, with Ben proposing during a long-awaited trip to Nashville and Las Vegas, a dream holiday inspired by their shared love of country music.

Despite a last-minute dash back to the hotel after realising he had forgotten the engagement ring, the proposal went ahead with meticulous planning and the help of a local coordinator.

The moment Ben Glass got down on one knee to propose to Emma Agnew on a Nashville rooftop. The Portglenone couple have since been announced as winners of Roe Valley Resort’s £10,000 ‘Win a Wedding’ competition, securing a luxury wedding celebration at the picturesque Roe Valley Resort in Limavady.

Emma recalled being completely unaware of what was coming, believing she was heading to a theatre show, only to be greeted by giant rooftop marquee letters spelling out ‘Marry Me’.

Their choice of Roe Valley Resort, they say, felt inevitable.

“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.”

The moment they discovered they had won the competition was filled with emotion and disbelief.

“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, Emma eventually 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 wedding now scheduled for 2027, the couple have already begun planning their big day, starting with booking their humanist celebrant, followed by their photographer, videographer, DJ, florist, and hair and makeup team.

Their vision is “traditional with a contemporary sense of sophistication” – simple, elegant, classy and meaningful.

Emma says she is most looking forward to walking down the aisle, while Ben is eagerly anticipating their first look.

Offering advice to other couples embarking on wedding planning, they said:

“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.”

Their celebration will take place during a transformative period for Roe Valley Resort, which is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound redevelopment as part of Galgorm Collection’s long-term investment strategy.

Planned developments include the unveiling of a Garden Pavilion Ceremony Room next year – a striking glass ceremony space filled with natural light and framed by landscaped gardens and views of Binevenagh – alongside a new luxury adults-only spa.

Charlotte McLean, General Manager at Roe Valley Resort, said the couple embodied everything the competition aimed to celebrate.

“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.”

More information about weddings at Roe Valley Resort is available at:

https://www.roevalleyresort.com/weddings