Two brides-to-be were last night battling to keep their wedding plans on course – amid fears the looming ferry strike could ruin their big days.
Passengers will face travel chaos tomorrow when CalMac workers walk out in their bitter dispute over job security, conditions and pensions.
The industrial action will begin at midnight tonight and last for 24 hours.
It will coincide with the start of the school summer holidays in the Western Isles and is expected to have a major impact on athletes heading to Barra for the island’s half-marathon event on Saturday.
Guest invited to the wedding of Amanda Afrin, 45, and David Calderwood in Inverness at the weekend have been frantically making alternative arrangements to get from the islands to the Highland capital.
And about 30 guests – more than a quarter of those invited – are booked to travel by ferry to the marriage of 28-year-old James Crossley and Becca Macleod, 23, on Lewis.
Among those relying on the ferry is the chauffeur for the bridesmaids.
Mr Crossley’s aunt has travelled from Texas in the US, and risks being stranded on the pier at Ullapool.
Becca said yesterday she was losing sleep because of the upset over whether or not the ferries will be back in action.
Meanwhile, a number of Miss Afrin’s relatives from Lewis have been forced to splash out extra money on flights in an effort to guarantee their place at her ceremony.
Others will face a race against time to get to the service on Saturday afternoon after travelling from the island in the morning.
Last night she said she had been unable to eat or sleep because of the stress of the situation.
“It has been absolutely awful,” she said. “I was nearly hysterical the other night.”
Miss Afrin, who studies beauty therapy at Inverness College, and Mr Calderwood are due to tie the knot at the Drumossie Hotel.
Miss Afrin, who lives with her two sons, Carson, 14, and Orran, 7, said: “You can imagine the chaos for people having to take extra days off work and the travel costs at such short notice have escalated. It’s a stress that nobody needs ahead of their wedding day.
“I am not against the strike, but it is quite difficult when months of preparation has gone into all of the table plans, menus and everything else for the wedding – and then something like this hits you.”
The RMT’s industrial action began yesterday with a 48-hour work-to-rule after talks to avert the strike broke down earlier in the week.
The union has defended the move, insisting it is fighting to preserve the “lifeline ferry services”.
CalMac has warned there will no sailings on most of the major routes on the west coast.
However, the ferry operator announced yesterday it would lay on a special overnight service to ensure runners can make the start of the Barrathon – Barra’s annual half-marathon – on Saturday.
The sailing is due to leave Oban on Saturday at 12.46am, arriving at Castlebay at 5.46am.
Calmac’s head of operations, Matt Harrison, said: “We know how important this event is for the community on the island, so despite the disruption caused by the RMT union’s strike action we were keen to pull out all the stops to make it a success.”
Barrathon organiser, Katie MacNeil, said: “I’m very pleased that CalMac have decided to lay on this special sailing to get people to the island. We have already had some cancellations but hopefully this will help ensure a good turnout.”