 Jamie and Margarita will tie the knot on 7 July |
A couple whose wedding plans were thrown into jeopardy when the bride's Russian family were refused entry to the UK have had their big day saved. Jamie Ferguson and Margarita Shevtsova said they would cancel their big day rather than go ahead without the whole family present at the ceremony.
But after the Foreign Office performed a u-turn, Ms Shevtsova's father will now be able to walk her down the aisle.
The ceremony will be held at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh on 7 July.
Mr Ferguson, 29, had claimed entry visas were initially refused despite, officials telling him there would be "no problem" with the application as the family had been granted permission to visit Ms Shevtsova, 27, in Edinburgh for Christmas two years ago.
The Foreign Office decision was particularly distressing for the couple as Ms Shevtsova, a financial analyst, is pregnant with the couple's first baby.
They had already paid out about �13,000 to book the wedding venue and for plane tickets to fly 15 relatives from Moscow to Edinburgh.
 |  Within two days of our story appearing on the BBC Scotland News Website we got a phone call from the Foreign Office saying that all 15 visa applications had suddenly been stamped and approved |
Mr Ferguson, originally from Edinburgh but now living in the Netherlands, said the Foreign Office's change of heart had come completely out of the blue.
He added: "Within two days of our story appearing on BBC Scotland's news website we got a phone call from the Foreign Office saying that all 15 visa applications had suddenly been stamped and approved.
"They told us it was because our appeal had been successful, which was a bit baffling as we hadn't actually lodged an appeal by that stage. But whatever the reasons for their change of heart we are obviously delighted.
"Like any bide-to-be, Margarita was desperate to be walked down the aisle by her dad Michael with her mother and the rest of her family watching and thankfully that will now be able to happen."
The Foreign Office said it had turned down the original application because the Russian family had not provided enough proof that they were attending a wedding.
Mr Ferguson said he was angry that he and his fianc�e at having been caused so much unnecessary worry just weeks before they were due to tie the knot.
He added: "At least now we only have the usual wedding stresses to contend with."
The Foreign Office said it did not discuss individual visa applications.
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