‘This will be the only Royal event worth attending’
Stirling is gearing up for its own Royal wedding on Saturday.
Stirling couple Janice Beaton and Shona Bruce will tie the knot at the Royal Hotel in Bridge of Allan on the same day that Prince Harry will wed Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle.
The couple will celebrate their 10th anniversary together in the same week as the big wedding.
Janice (56), a charity manager, and Shona (54), a counsellor, met in 1997 before becoming a couple on May 17, 2008.
They got engaged six years ago after attending the wedding of friends in Dunkeld.
Janice said: “We decided not to rush into things so we waited and waited and waited and our friends kept asking when.
“Our wedding invitations reflected this long wait, which was a photo of us as the corpse bride and groom with the phrase ‘we thought we should say we do before we’re dead.’”
Janice added: “We chose the date in November before Harry and Meghan had made their announcement.
“We then contacted Mary Wallace, humanist celebrant, to ask if she would conduct our service on the day. Thankfully she said yes and she has been an amazing support since then.
“We approached the Royal Hotel in Bridge of Allan, which we think is very fitting for our marriage.”
And Janice added: “Although the royal wedding falls on the same day, it would be fair to say that our same-sex wedding being held in the Royal Hotel is very appropriate for this day and really will be the only Royal event worth attending.”
The pair have taken Shona’s maternal grandmother’s diamond engagement ring and Janice’s gran’s rings to Ah Dors Gold and Gifts in Upper Craigs and had them turned into unique wedding rings.
Around 90 guests will attend on the big day.
Janice added: “Neither of us have been married before and at our age we know we’ve got it right.
“We’re both very excited to be getting married and celebrating our very special day with our family and friends, some who have travelled from America, Germany, Manchester, and all around the Central Belt.”
On Wednesday the Observer reported that Raploch couple Elizabeth Strickland (27) and Brian McKinlay (28) will celebrate their big day at the Golden Lion Hotel on Saturday.
They have been together for eight years and have two sons, Blake (4) and Brian (2), who will be pageboys on the special day.