25 June 2009

Nursing graduate to swap gown for wedding dress

Emma Ryan will graduate at 10am on Friday, June 26th, 2009.

Graduation and weddings are two of the happiest occasions in anybody’s life - but one soon-to-be University of Dundee graduate has decided to make them even more memorable by combining the two events.

Montrose woman Emma Ryan (35) will receive her Nursing degree on the morning of Friday, June 26th, but there won’t be any wild celebrations for her that evening as she had a wedding to prepare for the following day.

Emma will marry fiancé Colin Christie (42) at Montrose Registrars Office before enjoying an afternoon reception at the town’s George Hotel. That’s not the end of the revelry for the couple, however, as a bus will whisk the bride, groom and 19 family members and friends off to the University’s annual Graduation Ball where they will party the night away.

Emma was born and bred in Blackpool before moving to Scotland at the age of 19. As most of her family still live in the Lancashire town, while others now residing in Liverpool and Lincolnshire, the couple struck upon the idea of combining the two special events rather than asking people to make two long journeys in a short space of time.

Emma explained, 'We decided by doing this, we would help everyone out, and I think doing it this way makes things more memorable, which is probably just as well as you know what men are like for remembering dates!'

'Most of my family are travelling up from Blackpool, while Colin is originally from Brechin, so his relatives don’t have quite so far to travel. There are 14 people travelling up in total, and I’m sure those that are going onto celebrate at the Graduation ball will have a great time.'

'I had to contact the Students Union and ask for extra tickets. The staff were brilliant with us, and as soon as we told them why we needed the extra tickets, they agreed right away and have been brilliant with us.'

'It’s quite hectic making plans for everything, but fingers crossed everything seems to be going well. I have to visit Blackpool a few times yet to sort out a few bits and pieces but otherwise we’re all set for both graduation and our wedding.'

Colin works for the Bank of Scotland in Dundee, while Emma will shortly take up a post as a district nurse with Tayside Health Board. They will be joined at the wedding by Colin’s daughter, Ashleigh (16) and Emma’s sons, Declan (11) and Alexander (9).

The couple were introduced by Colin’s sister, who happens to be Emma’s best friend. They are well known in the local area as both are coaches at Montrose Athletics Club.

Emma continued, 'There’s a meeting on Graduation weekend but they’ll need to cope without us, I’m afraid, as we’re fully intending on partying on right through to the end of the Ball at 6am, and taking full advantage of the champagne breakfast that’s laid on.'

'The bus won’t pick us up until 7am, so I’m sure there will be a few sleepy people on the way back up to Montrose but we think it’s a fantastic and unique way of celebrating our wedding.'

Dundee University Students Association Marketing Manager, Trevor San, said they were delighted to be able to help Emma and Colin celebrate their wedding and the Beatles tribute band hired for the Graduation Ball will be playing - appropriately enough - Love Me Do when the couple enjoy their first dance as husband and wife.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk