Jamie and Margarita are expecting their first child in December

Jamie Ferguson, 29, had hoped to wed Margarita Shevtsova, 27, in a lavish ceremony in Edinburgh next month.

But Ms Shevtsova's dream of being walked down the aisle by dad Michael was shattered when 15 of her relatives had their visa applications refused.

The Foreign Office said it does not discuss individual cases.

The Russian family had been granted visas to visit Ms Shevtsova in Edinburgh for Christmas 2005 without a hitch.

The couple, who currently live in the Netherlands, claimed Foreign Office officials told them there would be "no problem" in obtaining new visas for Margarita's relatives to attend the wedding at George Heriot's School, as the family had previously visited the UK.

Because we had been told there would be no problem getting visas we went ahead and booked the wedding venue and flights for the family to Britain Jamie Ferguson

But all 15 applications were refused after the Foreign Office said the family had not provided enough information about why they wanted to visit Britain.

They have been told it could take three weeks for their appeal against the decision to be heard, leaving them little time to spare before the wedding date.

Mr Ferguson, who is originally from Edinburgh, said he was now considering cancelling the wedding rather than go ahead without Ms Shevtsova's relatives.

He added: "We cannot understand what has changed over the last year that means Margarita's family, who are all very respectable people in highly paid jobs, are no longer allowed to visit us.

The couple had planned to wed at spectacular George Heriots High School.

"All we had to provide the British consulate in Moscow with before their visit in 2005 was a signed letter saying they would be staying with me.

"If anything we gave more information this time, but all 15 applications were refused. I think we could quite probably cancel the wedding if we can't get this sorted out in time. It is very upsetting for us and Margarita's family."

Mr Ferguson said the decision was particularly distressing as financial analyst Ms Shevtsova is pregnant and their baby is due to be born in December.

He added: "Because we had been told there would be no problem getting visas we went ahead and booked the wedding venue and flights for the family to Britain.

Visa problems

"In all, it cost us about �13,000, much of which will be lost if we have to cancel the wedding."

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said: "We don't discuss individual cases. Each application is considered on its own merits and the requirements are set out on our website."

A spokeswoman for the Scotland-Russia Forum, which aims to strengthen links between the two countries, said she had not heard of any other Russians experiencing unusual visa problems.

Foreign Office statistics show 108,000 Russians applied for visitor's visas to the UK between 2005 and 2006, with only 3,000 being refused.