Here comes the bride . . 30 years after proposal

Published on 30/04/2008 10:16

MOST brides-to-be have to wait for what seems an eternity before they get their dream wedding.

But for Jacquie Wilson, the delay between her boyfriend popping the question and finally walking down the aisle has been an incredible 30 years.

The 49-year-old from Gracemount was just 20 when she said yes to her fianc, former youth boxing champion Dennis.

But despite living together for the past three decades and having two grown-up daughters, it has taken the couple until this week to finally tie the knot.

Ms Wilson, an office manager, said she was delighted to finally get the chance to have a wedding after 30 years of waiting.

She added: "I changed my name to Dennis's a while ago and people assumed we were married already, so it's come as a bit of a surprise for them. It's something we've always planned to do but, for one reason or another, it's been put on the back burner for years.

"I'm going to be 50 on Friday and we'd planned a big party for that but, as it drew nearer, we started to think that it would be the right time to get married as well.

"I'm absolutely delighted about it and can't wait."

The couple met when Jacquie was 17 and Dennis was running a football team from a local pub.

She said that he had "pestered me for months" for a date before she finally relented and, three years later, they got engaged.

She said: "I'd met him in the pub and he was always pestering me to go out with him. Eventually my friend's dad told me that I should go on one date with him and that he would probably leave me alone after that.

"I did and we've been together ever since, so it just shows that persistence really can work."

Mr Wilson, who won the Scottish title as a teenager during his boxing career but retired after losing an eye at the age of 21, said that he wanted his future bride to have her own "special wedding day".

The couple will finally wed at he Lothian Chambers register office on George IV Bridge on Friday.

The 61-year-old joiner added: "It's just taken a while to get round to finally marrying.

"We've got children and grandchildren now and everyone assumed we were married already. They think it's a bit strange we're only finally doing it now but everyone is really happy for us.

"Jacquie never had her big day and, as she's turning 50 on Friday, we decided that it would be the perfect time to take the final step.

"We're having a small ceremony with just family, but I hope it will be exactly what she wants."

He said daughters Cheryl, 26, and Karen, 23, were "absolutely made up" with the news.

He added "When I first met Jacquie she was 17 and used to watch the football team I coached from the touchlines.

"I followed her round for ages until she eventually agreed to go out with me and she's waited a long time for the chance to have her wedding."