Girls ... Leap for joy at popping the question!

Victoria Byres' wedding anniversary will be extra special - asshe'll only be able to officially celebrate it every four years.

Bride-to-be Victoria was due to marry fiance Bryan Morrison today- February 29.

The 27-year-olds had to wait four years for her big day at StMachar's Cathedral today after she popped the question on February29, 2004. The hairdresser, who met Bryan while they were bothstudying at St Machar Academy, said: "We have waited four yearsbecause there was no other day that was so special for us.

"We had talked about getting engaged a few weeks before but Iwent out and bought him a ring and took him for a meal andproposed."

February 29 is traditionally the day when a woman is allowed topropose to a man because it is a leap year. The extra day is addedto the end of February to give the year 366 days instead of 365 tokeep the Gregorian calendar in synch with the earth's revolutionsaround the sun.

Today is even more unusual than most leap years because thisFebruary had five Fridays in the month - something that lastoccurred in 1980 and will next occur in 2036.

And Victoria, who lives with offshore worker Bryan and son TylerMorrison, three, in Moir Green, said she did not mind having ananniversary every four years.

She said: "I have told Bryan that he still needs to buy me apresent every year! We will just get an extra special one for eachother on a leap year."

The pair were to have a reception at the Northern Hotel tonightand plan to honeymoon in Hawaii later this year.

Another happy couple due to wed today were David Watson and Sara-Louise Watt.

They chose February 29 for their ceremony at Aberdeen Townhouseto add "something different" to their wedding. The couple first metin an internet chat room in March 2006. And their face-to-facemeeting that April led to a whirlwind romance seeing them engaged bythe following July.

But they are not planning to wait four years to celebrate again.

David, 26, said: "We wanted to do it on February 29 - noteveryone can say they got married on a leap year. But we will stillcelebrate our anniversary on February 28 each year."

The finance assistant from Cults can't wait to move in with Sara-Louise, 27, at her Faulds Gate home.

And the pair plan to take kids Nathan, 10, Bailey, six, twinsDominic and Abigail, nine, and Ben, four, on a summer holidayinstead of a honeymoon.

ktaylor@ajl.co.uk