Nicole, an underwriter at Oakhurst Insurance and, at eight months pregnant, a new mum to be, initially thought it was a late April fools joke when her husband, Evan (29), told her on Wednesday 2 April that she is the Harvey World Travel Bride of the Year.
"I am amazed that I have won. It really was an unexpected, but lovely surprise."
Nicole and Evan said their vows in the New Apostolic Church in Rosemoor on 23 February last year, and celebrated their union as husband and wife at the Hyatt Regency in Oubaai.
Nicole entered the HWT bridal competition shortly after the wedding and was selected as the Bride of the Month in April last year.
The mutual affection between Mr and Mrs Stephenson is palpable; they are positively smitten with each other.
They are expecting their first bundle of joy early next month, and said they have already decided on a name.
Nicole and Evan both went to York High School, but it seems Cupid first had other plans for them.
"We went to the same school and apparently also stayed near each other in Cape Town after school, but we never once bumped into each other," said Nicole.
"We met in 2010 while we both worked as underwriters at Oakhurst," said Evan. These days Evan is the district manager at Avbob Life in George.
The winning couple received three nights' stay, including breakfast, at any Tsogo Sun Hotel/ Resort or Garden Court in South Africa, two return economy class air tickets on kulula.com and two R200 meal vouchers to use respectively at Pomodoro Restaurant and Salinas Beach Restaurant, both in Wilderness.
Harvey World Travel invites any bride in the Southern Cape to enter this free competition. Entry forms are available at Harvey World Travel's offices in George, Oudtshoorn, Knysna and the George Herald office in York Street.
Nicole and Evan Stephens (in front) at Travel Bugs with the sponsors, from left: Marita Steyn (Harvey World Travel - HWT), Renate Roodt (Travel Bugs), Antionette Kirsten (HWT), Caren Ogilvie (Bridal Inn) Linda Scholtz (HWT) and Werner Pons (Pomodoro Restaurant and Salinas Beach Restaurant). Absent: Dee Lippert (Kulula) and Ansie Van Wyk (The Beauty Salon). Photo: Henrica Veldman
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