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Friends rally to mark couple’s cancelled wedding

Family and friends surprise couple.

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By Euan Maxwell
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Friends rally to mark couple’s cancelled wedding

A DUMFRIES couple who were due to tie the knot last Saturday were stunned after their family and friends organised a big surprise for them.

With a date for their wedding booked –like many other soon-to-be newlyweds – Dale Handley and Nuala Toolis were gutted when the coronavirus pandemic put their big day plans on hold.

However, bridesmaid Beth Smith decided the lockdown wouldn’t stop Dale and Nuala from celebrating what would have been their wedding day. She said: “I organised it because all of the wedding plans were already in place when they got told it would have to be rearranged. Even the hen and stag dos were all sadly cancelled. I didn’t want them to feel down on what was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives so I wanted to do a little something to cheer them up. I wanted to keep them feeling excited and upbeat for their big day, whenever that might be.”

Beth bought a hamper for the couple – including matching ‘Almost Husband and Wife’ t-shirts – and arranged for the pair’s friends and family to drive past their home. Dale and Nuala were told to stand at their front entrance for pictures with family beside a banner.

But at 2 pm – when the pair were supposed to say I do – a large number of friends and family then drove past in celebration of what should have been their perfect day. A dozen cars passed with friends showing their support by waving, beeping their horns, throwing confetti out of the car windows and letting party poppers off.

It wasn’t the day that Nuala and Dale had been planning for but is one they will never forget. Nuala said: “We weren’t initially looking forward to the day but ended up having a really great time. It was the best surprise ever, it was great to see so many people drive past. It was a memory I’ll never forget, I was on a high from it all day. “I couldn’t believe how much effort Beth had gone to to make it so special for us. She went above and beyond.”

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