http://www.thisisaberdeen.co.uk
AT LAST! WE REALLY ARE
12:00 - 20 August 2007
It Was a day they dreamed about for more than a decade.
Now, thanks to the Evening Express's romantic Mr and Mrs competition, Debbie Thornton and Jon Collins have finally tied the knot.
The happy couple celebrated in style with a ceremony in the city's Town House.
And the vows were followed by a fabulous dinner and knees-up at the Carmelite Hotel.
And on Thursday the new Mr and Mrs jet out to Venice to enjoy their prize - as winners of Mr and Mrs.
Jon and Debbie, from Pitmedden, had been engaged for 11 years when they bumped into our Romeo quizmaster Cameron Stout, on the hunt for the perfect couple just before Valentine's Day.
Out of the blue, taxi-driver Jon, 38, vowed to finally make an honest woman of Debbie, 32, if they won the contest.
After answering questions which proved how well they knew each other, Cameron decided they were the bubbliest, funniest couple he'd met during the week.
And, hey presto, the wedding was arranged.
On Friday, Debbie looked dazzling in her twinkling, strapless gown as she prepared to say 'I do' - 11 years after Jon first got down on bended-knee.
The pair met 16 years ago at a party in Aberdeen.
Jon, originally from London, had just run away from the circus where he was working as a wild animal keeper.
He spent all those years pestering Debbie - who runs a beauty salon - to go to the altar. But each time their big day looked imminent, a spanner was thrown in the works.
The birth of Antonia, 12 years ago, scuppered one attempt.
And six years later, they had booked the venue and ordered the cake but cancelled at the last minute when Debbie found she was expecting Oskar.
But, third time lucky, everything went off like a dream.
The beautiful bride set off with her attendants in a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow from 1975 - the year she was born.
Bridesmaids were Elaine Clark and the couple's daughter, Antonia.
Flowergirls were Kennedi and Mackensie Corsar.
Debbie said: "I wasn't nervous going down the aisle, I was just so excited. My mum and dad did the worrying for everyone."
Nessun Dorma played as she drew near Jon at the altar, with best man Mark Corsar.
Jon said: "When I saw her coming down the aisle it was the best thing I'd ever seen - she looked beautiful."
As the congregation of around 50 cheered the pair were pronounced man and wife.
Guests were welcomed to the Carmelite by a picture board displaying the Evening Express stories which charted the couple's progress.
After cutting the six-tiered cake and enjoying the meal, other guests joined them for the reception.
The dancing begun with the Collinses cheek-to-cheek for Macy Gray's Sweet Baby.
Debbie said: "It was a fantastic day. If it wasn't for the Evening Express, I wouldn't be a Mrs!"
