A young Dundee bride has granted her dying mum’s final wish by tying the knot.
Cheryl Soutar, 26, found out she had just a fortnight to plan her big day after her mum was diagnosed with aggressive terminal cancer.
But her mother, Michelle Shirkey, 47, watched with pride as her daughter married Kevin in the Mirage on St Andrews Street.
Cheryl, from the Fintry area of the city, said: “I’ve got everything I need now and I couldn’t ask for more. I’ve got what I need, which is my mum at my wedding and that’s perfect.
“I will cherish the day forever, so thanks to everyone who helped to make this happen for my mum.
“I really can’t believe how amazing everyone has been and a big thank you to Ann Dodds, my wedding planner, for getting so much done so quickly.”
The mum-of-three’s wedding dress came all the way from Essex and dozens of people from across Tayside pulled together to make the big day a success.
Cheryl received donations for everything from the flowers to beauty treatments and photography.
And family and friends flocked to watch her walk down the aisle. Michelle has been having treatment in Ninewells Hospital for lung cancer, which spread to her spleen.
She was first diagnosed in August this year, but took a turn for the worse last month. Her daughter has been by her side day and night and being at Cheryl’s wedding was Michelle’s final wish.
One anonymous well-wisher even sent a £500 donation so Michelle could get a new outfit for the big day. Charity fundraiser Charlie Kean helped out with some of the donations and said it was a great day for the family.
He said: “It’s brilliant that it has all come together for Cheryl. Everybody wanted to help. Everybody knew the circumstances and wanted to pull together.
“It was a hard position for Cheryl to be in and I tried to help as much as I could. Michelle is so lovely and I have visited her in hospital a few times. It was a great day for the family.
“They had everything organised and it was remarkable that they pulled it off.”