Here is the lucky couple who have won The Falkirk Herald and Three Kings wedding competition

Nurse Lesley McGuinness and firefighter Chris O’Neil are going to enjoy a fabulous day at the Shieldhill venue once the pandemic is over and the wedding industry returns to normal.

The couple have been together for 13 years and are looking forward to tying the knot in The Three Kings marriage room before enjoying a reception with 100 family and friends.

This amazing prize was put forward by the Cattanach family who wanted to mark their 20 years of hosting weddings and also to say their own thank you to all the NHS and care workers for their efforts over the last ten months to look after our communities.

We received hundreds of nominations and a final ten was selected before the voting process got underway.

Valued at £6500, the package includes cars and cake, photographs and piper, flowers and fizz, plus lots, lots more to make this an unforgettable occasion.

Lesley, 50, is a nurse at the Westburn Medical Practice next to Falkirk Community Hospital, while Chris, 45, is based in an Edinburgh fire station.

The couple had been due to go to Ibiza last summer to celebrate Lesley’s 50th birthday but like so many holidays it was cancelled.

Instead Chris arranged a surprise proposal at the couple’s home in Cowie where they live with daughter Ciara, 11.

After being told they had made the final ten, Lesley said: “To get married in The Three Kings would be wonderful and even to be nominated is very exciting.

“This will be the first time for both of us. We’ve spoke about marriage but health issues in the family and other things mean it has never happened.”

There is also a fabulous wedding package for our runners-up who will only have to pay £1000 for their big day.

In a close fought competition with only a handful of votes separating the couples, staff nurse Laura Meade and her partner, chef Derek Hilley, claimed the second prize.

Laura, who works in theatre recovery at Forth Valley Royal Hospital, decided to become a nurse while she was undergoing cancer treatment.

She received the shock diagnosis of Stage 4 lymphoma shortly after completing a communications degree at Stirling University in 2014.

Derek has been with her every step of the way through diagnosis, treatment and nursing studies, and Laura cannot wait to become Mrs Hilley.

Over the past two decades, couples from across Scotland and even some from overseas have chosen the Cattanach family to help them plan and organise their big day celebrations.

The family said all their couples “make our job worthwhile”.

In March weddings were initially put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic and later only a small ceremony could take place with a handful of people and none of the usual celebrations but this is again subject to change.

They are now looking forward to meeting both couples and helping them organise a day they will remember for the rest of their lives.