Christmas draws 100 couples to marry at border

A total of 127 lovebirds will flock to the border town between Christmas Eve and January 4 to say ‘I do’ — a significant increase on the festive fortnight last year when 81 weddings took place.
And registrars and ministers are bracing themselves for a hectic spell as 16 sweethearts will wed on Christmas Eve, while a further 31 will see out the year in style by marrying on Hogmanay.
But there will be no unions on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day as the registration office will be shut.
The festive wedding figures, which have been obtained from Dumfries and Galloway Council, also shows the split as 27 religious and 100 civil ceremonies.
Meanwhile, a further three weddings will be held in approved venues in Annan over the festive period, with another three in Moffat at the same time.
A council spokesman said all registration offices in the region will close at 3 pm on Christmas Eve and Hogmanay and will reopen for normal business hours on December 29 and 30 and from January 5.