Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill won a competition organised by the Cattanach family who run The Three Kings and the prize has all they need for their dream wedding day.
Valued at over £6500, it includes everything from wedding cars, a reception for 100 day guests, an evening buffet for 200, bridal flowers, kilt hire, reception entertainment and an overnight stay for the newlyweds in the new bridal suite.
It was the Cattanach’s way of thanking all their customers for supporting them during two decades of hosting weddings and functions in their popular venue. It was also aimed at being a special thank you to NHS workers and carers for all their work during the pandemic.
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Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill will marry at The Three Kings in Shieldhill on Saturday after winning their big day courtesy of the Cattanach family who run the venue
Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill will marry at The Three Kings in Shieldhill on Saturday after winning their big day courtesy of the Cattanach family who run the venueRead More
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Together with The Falkirk Herald they asked for nominations from these professions and were inundated with entries but eventually a shortlist of ten was drawn up.
Every week readers voted for the couple they thought most deserving and Lesley and Chris were always top of the leaderboard.
Lesley, a healthcare assistant at Westburn Medical Practice in Falkirk, and Chris, a firefighter based at Crewe Toll in Edinburgh, both worked throughout the pandemic and were delighted to win.
Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill will walk down the aisle at The Three Kings on Saturday
Now the couple can hardly believe that it is only days before they walk down the aisle.
The excited bride-to-be said: “It’s been 18 months since we won and there was lots to think about at the start but then it was a bit quieter. But the last few weeks have just been hectic and full steam ahead.
“I went in to work this week and the staff had a ‘bride-to-be’ sign on my door which made me realise it is finally happening.”
Delighted Lesley McGuinness and Chris O’Neill are counting down the days until their dream wedding
The couple, who live in Cowie, met when both were on nights out in Edinburgh almost 15 years ago and just clicked right away.
Lesley added: “We’ve spoken about getting married for years but there has always been something else happening, such as health issues in our families, and other people have had to come first.
“But now we can’t quite believe it’s actually happening.”
After hen and stag nights took place, the couple were able to concentrate on their wedding day on Saturday, June 25.
Lesley, 51, will have the couple’s daughter Ciana, 13, as bridesmaid along with her niece Emma McGuinness and goddaughter Andrea King.
Her father died 17 years ago so her sons, Ross, 24 and Dean, 21, will give her away and she will be leaving from her mum’s home
Chris, 46, will have his son Aaron, 26, as best man.
“We’re a really close family,” said Lesley, “and it’s going to be lovely to have them all part of the bridal party.”
She has also been touched by gifts and good wishes she has received from patients at the practice where she works.
“The kindness from everyone has been overwhelming and we cannot thank people enough.”
Sadly Three Kings owner David Cattanach died earlier this year but the wedding is being organised by his son James and daughters Paula and Catrina.
