A former MKFM presenter will represent the county at the national final of The Wedding Industry Awards 2026 after he and his partner were named Regional Winners in one of the UK wedding industry’s most prestigious competitions.
Julia Ray and Matthew (Rayzie) Ray, previously of MKFM run Aura Wedding DJs, and secured their place at the national final following a rigorous judging process that combined customer feedback from the past 12 months with expert assessment from across the industry.
The 2026 awards saw 26,747 votes cast by newly married couples for more than 1,300 wedding businesses nationwide. Based on average voter scores and customer feedback, alongside the opinions of more than 160 expert judges, just 1,000 businesses progressed to become Regional Finalists, with only the strongest performers ultimately crowned Regional Winners.
Julia and Matthew were announced as Regional Winners at an awards event held last month, and will now go on to compete in the National Final in Liverpool on January 21.
For Julia, the achievement carries extra significance. While the quality of service remains the focus, her presence at the national level also reflects a gradual shift within wedding entertainment - an area that has traditionally been male-dominated.
“This recognition comes from the couples we’ve worked with and from industry experts,” she said. “To be representing the county on a national stage makes it even more special.”
Matthew, who presented the evening show on MKFM when the station first launched, and later the afternoon show between 2020-2021, added, “The standards for these awards are extremely high, so to reach the national final is a huge milestone for us and the business.”
Pic: Matt Rock
