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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaliyah Rugg

Family's old hen-party tradition on busy city centre street

Crowds watched on as an excited bride-to-be carried out an old family tradition on a busy city centre street.

Bride-to-be Holly Weir travelled from Scotland to Liverpool with her hen party this weekend for an extra special event. Her celebration was kickstarted on the busiest street in Liverpool, with an old Scottish family tradition.

Holly, holding hands with her mother Ailsa and Maid of Honour Vicky Wetton, jumped over a "chanty", traditionally a chamber pot/potty, three times outside of Primark on Church Street. This was filled with "ribald and risqué" items as well as salt and baby items, to "wish her well" on her married life.

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Holly was joined with Ailsa Weir, Vicky Wetton, Elaine Hartley, Eilidh Hartley, Katie Morrison and Alice. God mum Elaine even flew to Liverpool from New York to take part in the special celebrations.

Mum Ailsa told the ECHO that traditionally, from the Isle of Arran, the bride-to-be would be dressed in paper roses and elaborate coats and it was hoped to bring good luck and fertility.

She said: "Our family are from the West Coast of Scotland and we have a tradition where we dress in paper roses and we'd have a chanty decorated with different things. We'd have baby things in there, some risqué things for married life.

Bride to be Holly Weir on her Hen-do in Liverpool (Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)

"All of her aunties and cousins have put something in and the Maid of Honour and brides mother jump the bride over the chanty, filled with salt for good luck."

When asked why they chose the city centre location, Ailsa said "you've got to make an impact and do it somewhere busy", but they were soon to be joined by cousins who live in Liverpool for the big celebration.

Holly Weir jumping over the ''Chanty'' on her Hen-do in Liverpool with Chief bridesmaid Vicky Wetton and mum Ailsa Weir (Andrew Teebay Liverpool Echo)

Speaking to the ECHO, 31-year-old Holly said the hen-do event came as a complete surprise. After her fiancé Blair Mackie proposed on Boxing Day last year outside the Lochranza Castle in Scotland, they could not wait to start the wedding planning.

Holly, who is getting married on May 27, said the hen-do event in Liverpool was "special" due to their familial ties, but she was not expecting the chanty until she woke up this morning.

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