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Recent releases
Dumfries and Galloway Council staff are gearing up for a month of love and romance with Valentines Day and Leap Day weddings fast approaching.
Valentines Day is one of the busiest days during the winter wedding season with the exception of Leap Day which falls every 4 years. February 2020 is a record breaking month with 316 weddings taking place across the region from Gretna in the East to Portpatrick in the West.
Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chairman of Communities Committee said;
"Gretna and Gretna Green’s romantic history continues to attract couples and runaway lovers who wish to tie the knot on Valentines Day. The town is synonymous with romance and weddings and has always been a destination for young lovers after the Marriage Act was passed in 1754 in England, which outlawed marriages without parental consent if either party was under 21. The tradition of couples travelling to Gretna and Gretna Green continues to this day and remains Scotland's undisputed wedding destination as demonstrated by the number of couples who choose to be married each year."
Councillor John Martin, Vice Chairman of Communities Committee said;
"Valentines day will see 45 weddings taking place in Dumfries and Galloway with 25 weddings being conducted by Council staff in Gretna. As 2020 is a leap year, 29th February is proving to be very popular with 63 weddings planned in Dumfries and Galloway. Fifty nine couples have chosen Gretna and Gretna Green as the destination to make their marriage vows and celebrate this special day. This Leap Day is proving to be the busiest within the last decade."