Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

One happy couple is guaranteed “something blue” when they tie the knot at Cardiff Arms Park.

Better known as the home of the Cardiff Blues, the famous ground is gearing up to host its first-ever wedding when Karen Collins and her fiancé Phil Heaven get hitched in August.

The loved-up pair rescheduled their entire wedding to fit their dream venue after they won a competition for a free wedding at the stadium.

Blues-mad Phil, 41, even got to meet some of his heroes yesterday when the wedding party arrived pitch-side for a rehearsal of the day, accompanied by newly-selected Lions Jamie Roberts, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny and Sam Warburton.

Phil said: “They’re all heroes in my household. I’m absolutely ecstatic about it all.”

Karen, 36, revealed she cancelled their original venue and rescheduled their honeymoon when they discovered they had won the competition.

Originally organised for September 28, the couple are now rushing to get everything sorted in time for the new date of August 10.

She said: “Everything’s had to be changed around now – we’ve had to change the hairdresser and book some rooms in the Angel Hotel.

“But it’s all totally worth it.”

A diehard Cardiff fan since 1984, Phil said they hadn’t even realised the ground hosted weddings until they attended the Arms Park Wedding Show in March, where they entered the competition on a whim.

Despite it being the dream venue for a groom with a Cardiff Blues tattoo, the pair decided to leave it to fate.

“We’d already booked a venue by then, but we decided to put our names in the hat for the free wedding competition anyway,” said Karen.

“I never thought in a million years we would win it. Then I got the phone call and I thought, well, it’s meant to be.”

She added: “Phil didn’t believe it when I called him to tell him the good news – he thought I was joking.”

While there will be Ospreys and Dragons fans among the wedding party, Phil, who lives in Abertillery, said all sporting rivalries would be put aside on the big day.

“I’m sure they won’t mind being at the home of the Blues,” he said. “We’re used to the banter anyway. Luckily, my best man is a Blues fan as well.”

Karen added: “We can’t get married on the pitch unfortunately – but I’m sure we’ll get plenty of pictures taken.”

For further information on weddings at the venue, call Zoe Gilvear on 029 2030 2015 or email zoe.gilvear@cardiffblues.com