David Cattanach wanted to run The Three Kings wedding venue in Shieldhill for two decades and also wanted to thank NHS staff and carers for all of their work during the pandemic.
Last summer, he teamed up with The Falkirk Herald to bring one happy couple the chance to enjoy their dream ceremony and reception, and more, in one great giveaway.
The price, worth over £ 6500, includes everything from wedding cars, a reception for 100 day guests, an evening buffet for 200, bridal flowers, kilt rental, reception entertainment and an overnight stay for the newlyweds in the new bridal suite.
There were hundreds of entries from all health and care professions, of which a shortlist of ten was eventually made.
Over a period of several weeks, the readers, together with friends and families of the nominated couples, voted for whom they thought was most deserving.
Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill topped the rankings each week and were declared overall winners earlier this year.
Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill.
Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill.This week, the enthusiastic couple were finally able to meet Mr. Cattanach in person and make arrangements to say “I’ll do”.
And the two, who have been together for almost 14 years, are happy that they will be able to tie the knot next summer.
Lesley, a health care assistant at Westburn Medical Practice in Falkirk, and Chris, a firefighter in Crewe Toll, Edinburgh, both worked during the pandemic and said their wedding day will be “everything they’ve ever dreamed of.”
The ecstatic bride-to-be said, “I could hardly sleep the night before our meeting, I was so excited.
“It was nice getting to know the family personally and we spent two hours being shown around and going through all the arrangements.
“Mr. Cattanach gave us a bottle of champagne when we arrived. We were treated like royalty.”
The couple plan to get married on June 25, 2022, and like The Three Kings, where Mr. Cattanach works with son James and daughters Paula and Catrina, their wedding will be a family affair.
Lesley, 50, will have the couple’s daughter, Ciana, 12, as a bridesmaid along with her niece Emma McGuinness and goddaughter Andrea King.
Her father died 16 years ago, so her sons Ross (23) and Dean (20) will be giving her away.
Chris, 45, will have his son Aaron, 25, as his best man.
“We’re a very close family,” said Lesley, “and it will be nice to have them all part of the bridal shower.”
The couple who live in Cowie met when they were both in Edinburgh and just clicked immediately.
Lesley added, “We’ve talked about getting married for years, but something different has always happened, like health problems in our families, and other people have to come first.
“But now we can’t quite believe it’s actually happening.”
“It’s only 13 months away, but if you think we’ve been in a pandemic for the past 14 months, it will fly by.”
Second in the competition were theater nurses Laura Meade and Derek Hilley from Falkirk.
You win a wedding package for £ 1000.
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