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A wheely good wedding

2nd Aug 2005

For most people a trip on The Falkirk Wheel is a memorable experience, but for Joanne Butler and David Johnson their journey was unforgettable.

On July 29th the couple boarded the world’s first and only rotating boatlift as individuals, but stepped off as man and wife.

And their trip to the visitor centre involved more than a cup of tea and a scone, as 120 of their friends and relatives gathered to celebrate their union in style, complete with a whole pig roasting over a fire and a fountain of flowing chocolate.

It was the first time that an entire wedding has been held at the spectacular Falkirk Wheel, which stands 115 feet high, and joins the Forth & Clyde and Union canals – creating a unique union of its very own.

Joanne (30), a nurse at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, said: "Every girl dreams of having the perfect wedding and I could not have picked a better place to have mine.

"David and I had wanted to find a venue that was out of the ordinary and it was actually David’s dad who suggested we take a look at The Falkirk Wheel. Once we’d seen it we knew it was exactly what we had been looking for. Not only was it a stunning venue, it was one we knew would amaze all our guests."

The couple, who meet five year’s ago while on holiday in Spain, got engaged in May. David (26), a railway engineer with Lionverge, got down on one knee to pop the question as the sun set over the Red Sea in Egypt.

Joanne, from Sunderland, said: "We didn’t see any point in having a long engagement and wanted to get the wedding arranged as quickly as possible. We were amazed at how quickly staff at The Falkirk Wheel managed to get everything in place for us, ensuring our wedding celebrations went without a hitch on the day."

Richard Millar, Service and Business Development Manager, British Waterways Scotland, said: "When Joanne and David asked if they could get married at The Falkirk Wheel we were only too pleased to help out. The Falkirk Wheel, with its stunning visitor centre, is a perfect wedding venue for couples wanting to hold their full service in spectacular and breathtaking surroundings.

"We are delighted that the happy couple had such a memorable day and the staff at The Falkirk Wheel would like to wish them all the best in their future together."

On the day David, from Linlithgow, boarded the Princess Mary at Lock 16 with 50 guests just after 4 p.m. and sailed along the Forth & Clyde Canal.

Joanne, who looked stunning in a red wedding dress, made her entrance at the top of the 115 feet structure and the couple exchanged vows in a humanist ceremony as the boatlift lowered them into The Falkirk Wheel basin.

Wedding guests then enjoyed drinks on the boat before sailing across the basin to join a further 70 guests in the visitor centre where the wedding reception took place against the breathtaking backdrop of the floodlit Falkirk Wheel.

The couple, who live in The Drum, Bo’ness, then jetted off on their honeymoon to Prague.

Last updated: 22/10/2008