My surprise wedding!
Lesley surprised Mark with a wedding!
Monday 14th July 2008
When you've been an item as long as Mark Stepney, and I had, you get used to people asking when you'll get married. But, unlike most couples, it was Mark who pestered me about it.
'I don't want to get married and have to change my name,' I'd laugh.
After all, we'd been happy as we were for eight years, since being introduced by a mutual friend, Kevin McHardy, in December 1999.
The year 2000 was a leap year, and when 29 February came, Kevin dared me to propose. I could never say no to a dare, so I got down on one knee.
'Will you marry me?' I giggled.
'Yes,' he laughed, blushing.
We moved in together, and had a son, Matthew, on 13 December 2000. We'd been happy ever since, but never got round to a wedding.
Now, it was April 2008, I was working as a relief nursery nurse, and Mark was a chemist on an oil rig. We couldn't afford a big do. Besides, I had other things to think about. Like Mark's 30th birthday in six weeks' time.
'So what are you doing for Mark's birthday?' my niece, Alison Ross, 28, asked over coffee one morning.
'I don't know,' I admitted. 'Maybe a family dinner on the Saturday.'
I sat for a minute, thinking about who I'd invite — our brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews…
'While we're all there, Mark and I may as well get married,' I giggled.
Alison laughed, but as I thought about it, I realised it wasn't so crazy.
Two weeks on, I phoned Alison.
'I'm doing it,' I said. 'I'm going to surprise Mark with a wedding.'
'You're mad!' she laughed.
But my mind was made up....
'Keep it quiet,' I warned.
'My lips are sealed,' she swore.
I raced to Ugie House Hotel, where I'd booked a surprise birthday dinner.
'You know the meal I booked?' I said to the manager. 'Can it be a surprise wedding instead?'
'Of course,' he beamed.
I didn't tell Matthew the plan. But I confided in our neighbours, Reverend Dr Kay and Reverend Ranald Gauld.
'We'd be happy to marry you,' Kay smiled.
Another tick on the list…
The only glitch was Mark had to sign the papers for the wedding schedule.
But I found a way round that, too.
'It's for Matthew's passport,' I lied, shoving the form under his nose when he was rushing out the door for a fortnight on the rig. He signed without reading it. Over the next few days, I rushed about, getting paperwork from Keith Register Office, ordering a cake, buying two gold bands, and ringing our families.
'It's Mark's surprise party,' I told everyone. 'Be there at 7.15pm.'
Mark got home from the rig 11 days before the big day. His birthday was
two days before the surprise party.Matthew and I got him golf gloves and
a cap, and we had a day in Aberdeen.
'There's another surprise to come,' I told Mark, knowing he'd never guess what.
On the day, I woke up with a stomach full of butterflies. My sister, Sandra, 56, arrived from Inverness, but, as far as Mark knew, it was just for a visit.
'Alison's arranged for dinner at Ugie House Hotel,' she said.
'Lovely,' Mark smiled.
Not wanting to give anything away, I pulled on my jeans and, at 7.30pm, we all went down to the hotel. When Mark spotted our families in the bar, my stomach was in knots.
'What have you done?' he smiled.
You don't know the half of it.
We spent the next 10 minutes in the bar area with our 29 guests.
Then, Kay and Ranald walked in. Kay gave me the nod, and my body broke out in goosebumps.
'Come here,' I said, taking Mark's hand. 'Remember I said there was one more surprise? Well, we're getting married tonight.'
Mark didn't say a word. Oh God, I panicked. What if he didn't want to get married after all?
'Are you OK?' I asked.
'Just a bit… surprised!' he beamed.
Everyone piled into the hotel's conservatory, and Mark and I held hands as we said our vows, which Kay had changed to suit us.
'Lesley,' Mark said, repeating after Kay. 'You don't have to
change your name.'
Everybody roared with laughter. Matthew sat there, shocked but delighted that his mum and dad were getting married. After we'd exchanged rings, and Kay pronounced us man and wife, everyone cheered as we kissed.
Then we sat down to eat. Mark didn't say anything about what I'd done, but his smile said it all. It was midnight by the time we got home. We didn't need a fancy hotel room or honeymoon trip. All we needed was each other.Two months on, we're happy as ever. And people have finally stopped asking us when we're getting married!
Mark says: 'It would be fair to say I wanted to get married more than Lesley at first, but I guess that's changed! I didn't have a clue she'd planned a wedding, but I love her for it. It was a wonderful surprise.'