Greenock couple battle through snow to get married

Lynnmarie Borland and fiance Alan Docherty feared their wedding might not go ahead as the whole area was hit by blizzards.

But the couple — who had been engaged for 10 years — refused to let the ‘beast from the east’ get in the way of true love as they pulled out all the stops to tie the knot in an emotional and intimate ceremony.

They had originally brought their wedding forward after Lynnmarie’s dad was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer but sadly 74-year-old Billy died three weeks before they were due to wed.

Brave bride Lynnmarie, 42, who lives with Alan and their two daughters in Burnhead Street, said: “It certainly was a day that no-one is ever going to forget. It was very emotional and a rollercoaster.

“It was an incredible day in the end.”

Greenock couple Lynnmarie and Alan, 38, had been looking forward to being married in the Ingliston Equestrian Centre, Bishopton, on March 2 but began to panic when an unprecedented red weather warning was issued.

Lynnmarie said: “I just couldn’t believe it when the snow kept falling.

“I have never seen anything like it. Nobody could move or go anywhere.

“Everyone was cancelling. It was one phone call after another — I couldn’t get my cake, I had no flowers and there were no centrepieces.

“I didn’t even have my wedding dress as it was stuck down in Skelmorlie.”

With less than 24 hours to go Lynnmarie still didn’t have her dress — until her hero groom stepped in.

Taxi driver Alan said: “I just decided enough was enough. Everyone was phoning to cancel so I dug my car out and drove down to get her dress on the Thursday night.” 

On the day of the wedding, with Inverclyde still buried under snow and with only minutes left to spare, Lynnmarie was told that her wedding car was on the way —thanks to a snow plough.

She said: “I was in constant touch with Ashton Wedding Cars and they had managed to get McGill’s to use their snow plough to dig them out.”

Minister Fraser Donaldson, who is the chaplain at Lynnmarie and Alan’s girls’ school, also dug his way out along with the photographer Lyall Gallacher.

Before leaving home Lynnmarie was in her jeans and had planned to walk to the car and get changed at Bishopton.

Then she received a phone call to say that a council snow plough had turned up to get the car down her street.

With her neighbours frantically digging a path Lynnmarie was able to walk out her front door in her dress.

Lynnmarie added: “That must be the quickest change for a bride!

“Everyone went above and beyond and I can’t thank them enough. 

“At the end of the day you don’t need flowers and a cake to get married. It is all about getting married.”

When they got there it was a ceremony to remember.

She said: “It was amazing and our minister Fraser Donaldson was brilliant. The equestrian centre were great too. They managed to find centrepieces and even baked a cake!”

The wedding party then enjoyed a meal together before heading home.

The couple had originally planned to get married in December this year but they were dealt a devastating blow when Lynnmarie’s dad was diagnosed with cancer.

They rescheduled the wedding in the hope that he would live to see it.

Sadly Billy passed away on February 8 this year but the couple decided to go ahead with a small ceremony including around 30 guests and all immediate family.

Alan’s dad Hugh was best man and their daughters Abby, seven, and Sophie, five, were flower girls while Lynnmarie’s aunt Jean O’Donoghue walked her down the aisle.

Lynnmarie’s eldest, son Gary was also by their side and the family ensured that absent loved ones were in their thoughts.

Lynnmarie said: “I had a locket with a picture of my mum and dad in my flowers. 

“We lost my mum Catherine in 2001.

“Alan’s mum Eunice died three years ago and I was passed on her rings.

“As a special surprise for Alan I had her wedding ring reshaped to fit him.

“At the wedding I told Alan that she would always be with him. There was not a dry eye.”