TYING the knot can be an expensive business - but not if you have a sponsored wedding.

Winning sponsorship for your big day is the ingenious idea of an American entrepreneur, and now a Newport couple are getting a slice of the action.

Gemma Lang, 22, and her fiance Adam O'Loughlin, 30, of Upper Power Street, are planning the wedding of their dreams on April 21.

But money is tight.

Although Mr O'Loughlin works as a PC for Avon and Somerset Police, Miss Lang runs an anti-bullying campaign, something into which she has ploughed thousands of pounds of her money, and has also taken a pay cut to begin a career in nursing.

Miss Lang quit a full-time job as an ambulance controller to work part-time as a healthcare assistant at St Anne's Hospice because of the demands of her campaign.

So the couple are getting various companies throughout the UK to sponsor different parts of the event. In return the companies get a mention on their wedding website and at the wedding itself.

"It all started that someone I knew offered to make our wedding cake for us for free," said Miss Land, a part-time special constable.

"Then things sort of snowballed and before we knew it, things were being donated left, right and centre."

They have had a wedding dress, photography, shoes, catering, a limousine, tables and chairs, flowers, stationery and balloons donated, and say they have saved around £3,500 of the £12,000 cost. The money they have saved will help fund Miss Lang's anti-bullying campaign while a donation will also be made to St Anne's Hospice.

The happy couple and their parents will share the rest of the cost of the wedding.

Miss Lang added: "It's brilliant that everyone is so supportive of our plan.

"I'm sure it'll be a brilliant day to remember."

Fullstop2bullying is a conselling and advice service, set up by Gemma in November 2001.

A victim of bullying herself, she wanted to help others who have been through a tough time.

"I go to schools and colleges giving counselling sessions to individuals and groups," she said.

"I'm hoping to register as a charity next year, but it involves a lot of money.

"For the time being I'm funding the campaign myself, which means we don't have a lot of spare money to spend on a wedding."

COMPANIES SONSORING THE WEDDING All About Eve - Wedding dress Happy Times - Balloons The Limo People - Transport Passion Flowers - Bouquets La Bonne Vie - Shoes Nail Divas UK - Manicures Anne's Fantasy Cakes Deardon's Studios - Photography Top Table - Tables and chairs Browning's Caterers - Food Kizzy Cat Cards - Table plan Hellen McMaster - Stationery Visit: www.gemmaandadam210407.co.uk THE WEDDING According to research, the average wedding in 2007 will cost between £17,000 and £19,000, with an average of the following being spent on top items: Engagement ring - £1,500 Wedding dress - £1,000 Flowers - £800 Photographer - £900 Cake - £250 Reception - £5,000