Scottish groom Lee is planning his wedding to Lee at Pollokshields Burgh Hall on 26th July next year
11 months to go! Lee Samuel, an actor and film/TV location manager, will marry Lee Johnston, a recently qualified social services worker, at Pollokshields Burgh Hall on 26th July next year
The First One!
The one-year countdown begins! I’m Lee J and he is Lee S and we met online back in 2021. After a bottle of wine and staying up all night swapping stories of our childhoods and our dreams and aspirations, we have been inseparable ever since!
We bring out the best in each other and push one another to achieve goals and make positive changes – like when he convinced me to go back and study as a mature student. We bought our first home together, an apartment on the Clyde in Yoker, and have loved making happy memories there over the past couple of years.
Back in December just past, I was busy planning to propose to him. It was a secret, and I needed help from the manager and director of the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock where Lee was performing in his ninth consecutive pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. He and I share a love of musicals and theatre, and I am in awe of his ability to perform and captivate an audience – so what better way to propose than in front of all his ‘panto pals’ who come and watch him year in year out!
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He's behind you...with a ring! We loved the couple’s amazing on-stage proposal at the Beacon Arts Centre
I began organising things months ahead of time, so all our friends and family would be there to witness the big moment. Our friend Jenny had the genius idea of suggesting that everyone should come in disguise, so that Lee wouldn’t spot them in the audience! He had absolutely no idea anything was going on.
At the end of the show, it was announced that there was a special surprise for someone – which confused and shocked Lee to a new level of speechlessness! Then, in front of a full house of 500 people, I got up on the stage, down on one knee and popped the question… to which (thankfully!) he said yes!
Then, in front of a full house of 500 people, I got up on the stage, down on one knee and popped the question… to which (thankfully!) he said yes!
The couple will make it official at the stunning Pollokshields Burgh Hall (Photo: Caroline Mortimer Humanist Celebrant)
We had so many ideas of what we thought our perfect day would consist of, from marrying abroad to getting hitched on a farm. The best advice we could give you is go and see as many venues as possible. That way you begin to understand what you’re really looking for and if the ‘spark’ is there.
We definitely felt that way when we viewed Pollokshields Burgh Hall in May. The staff have been amazing at answering our questions and making us feel relaxed and comfortable about which planning procedures to put into place. And the location is great for our family and friends.
As we’re all about music and performing, entertainment has to be a big highlight of our day. We have booked acts for both the ceremony and the evening, with the talented Ginny & The Tonic performing during the day and ever-so-cool band The Kuil getting the party started with a bang!
We knew we didn’t want to go down the traditional route with a lot of things, so we have asked our chosen wedding party to be our ‘pals of honour’ . We’ll also have my best friend Kris and Lee’s best friend KT as our best man and best woman respectively.
Entertainment is a big thing for Lee and Lee, so they are delighted to have booked The Kuil
What's next?
While we still have plenty of time until ‘Lee Squared’ becomes official, our next step is to have meetings with caterers – Nosh is a highly recommended name we’re looking forward to trying out. We want to finalise our celebrant as well to ensure the day goes without a hitch.
Hear from our other grooms Declan and Jonathan who are further along in their planning journey
