The terminally ill reality TV star Jade Goody said today she was "thrilled" that a change in her fiance's bail conditions would allow the couple to spend their wedding night together.

The Ministry of Justice's decision to allow Jack Tweed to stay with his wife until the following morning would mean the "dream finish" to her day, Goody said in a statement.

Tweed, who was jailed for 18 months last September after assaulting a teenager with a golf club, was released early last month on condition he wears a tag and returns to his mother's house in Essex by 7pm each day.

Goody, who has terminal cancer, was said to be distraught after the governor of Wayland Prison in Norfolk initially refused to waive his bail conditions so the couple could be together on Sunday night.

But this morning the Ministry of Justice announced that prison managers had subsequently decided that this was an "exceptional" case and Tweed would be allowed to stay with his bride until 3pm the following day instead of having to return to his mother's home by 7pm.

In a statement issued through Goody's publicist, Max Clifford, the couple said: "We are absolutely thrilled. It will be the dream finish to her dream day, and it makes so much difference. Our heartfelt thanks from Jade and from Jack for allowing him to stay the evening in these very special circumstances."

The justice secretary, Jack Straw, said: "It is crucial that offenders are treated equally within the rules regardless of the publicity surrounding their case but I was satisfied that it was reasonable to allow this."

A spokesman added: "Jack has enormous sympathy for Jade Goody and her family at this time. She is showing extraordinary courage and his thoughts are with her and her family.

"The National Offender Management Service chief operating officer, in discussion with the governor of the prison, has determined that this is an exceptional case and Mr Tweed will be allowed to remain at the reception and that address until 3pm the day after the wedding."

Speaking during a constituency visit in Fife, Gordon Brown also commented, saying: "I think everybody is sad at the tragedy that's befallen Jade Goody. Everyone who suffers cancer has the thoughts of me and I think the whole country over what they've got to go through."

Goody, who was told by doctors on Friday that her cervical cancer had spread to other organs, has vowed to raise money from selling media rights to her story to provide for her sons, Bobby and Freddie.

She is expected to raise about £1m from a series of media deals signed since she was told she has terminal cancer last week, including TV and picture rights to her wedding.