Sometimes You Just Need to See Kilts, Roses, and Moody Romance

In a historically preserved gown from your grandmother, #Nobigdeal

bride and groom standing against the sky

Alyssa, Freelance writer & William, Production

Sum-up of the wedding vibe: People traveled from all over the world for a romantic, intimate Scottish wedding.

Song: “When I Get My Hands On You” by New Basement Tapes

bride getting ready before weddingwedding detailswedding dress and shoes against windowbride and groom before first lookblack and white photo of bride and groom after first lookscottish wedding detailsbride sitting in car before weddingbride getting ready with family before weddingblack and white photo of bride and groom after wedding ceremonybride and groom kissing in car after weddingbride and groom standing outside bride and groom walking outside bride and groom kissing outside bride smiling with groomwedding reception inside a tentwedding details and place settings bride and groom entering reception with bagpipe player black and white harp detail wedding guest laughing at wedding groom laughing at wedding wedding guest smiling at wedding two wedding guests talking to one another bride and groom during first dance bride and groom during first dance wedding guests at wedding bride and groom laughing during wedding toasts guests standing outside at wedding ArtisticScotlandWeddingPhotographer_175

Favorite Thing

Getting married where we met! But also dress, secret garden location, flowers, and all of my family and friends that traveled so far! Every detail embodied the planning and work of someone important to me, and that made it really special.

Other Cool Stuff

Will and I met on the first day of our freshman year at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. We spent five years living and studying there, and then moved to Texas. After six years together he proposed with a custom, antique-inspired rose gold ring from William Noble Jewelers in Dallas, and we immediately knew we wanted to return to Scotland for our wedding.

We wanted to be married in the University chapel, with its beautiful stone, woodwork, and stained glass dating back to the 1400s. The challenge was to find a reception venue that would feel romantic and intimate, but also just a short drive from the ceremony location in the center of St. Andrews. We chose Strathtyrum Estate, an old family house with a walled Victorian garden rented out for weddings. The garden was perfect for photos, with rose and peony bushes, climbing vines, and a large flat space for a tent, or marquee as they call it in Scotland, which we rented from Green Field Marquees.

The dress matched the historic ceremony location, and I felt my grandmother was there with me as I walked down the aisle. I decided to wear my grandmother’s dress, which my mother also wore. It was a custom 1950s Priscilla’s of Boston satin gown with lace detail, a fitted waist and A-line skirt, and a long cathedral train. I used the atelier at Musette Bridal in Boston, where I grew up. They found a Vera Wang lace to replace the original lace, and made a cathedral veil with hand-sewn lace edging to match the dress’ train. I knew the chapel had a viewing gallery from above, and having a long veil to surround the skirt as I walked down the aisle was really important to me for photos. Their skilled designer was also able to lift the waistline, drop the neckline and change the sleeves; we left the original paper lining. I was so lucky to have the chance to preserve a family heirloom and had a lot of fun redesigning some aspects. My grandmother’s inspiration for the dress was Princess Grace Kelly, and I wanted to keep that classic, timeless feel.

We wanted to incorporate cultural details, so my mother hired a Scottish bagpiper, Max Anderson, to welcome guests in and out of the ceremony, and the University choir and organist for music throughout. The chapel has a bell tower, and these rang before and after the ceremony, which reminded me of my days living in St. Andrews! The groom, best man, and his father, wore kilts from Kinloch Anderson in the Sinclair tartan.

One way that we simplified our planning was by keeping our bridal parties small. My brothers wore rented kilts, and my sister and his sister wore long dove-colored Amsale chiffon gowns with off-the-shoulder sleeves. To stay on budget we printed our programs with West Port Print & Design, a local print and design business. They created crisp, simple programs with an illustration of the chapel steeple that tied in with a similar one on our wedding invitation.

I had a lot of help from both mothers with planning. Our venue provided only a backdrop, and I never could have imagined the amount of detail that goes into planning a tent! Think electricity, floor, lighting, kitchen tent, furniture, stage, and bathrooms, plus decorations! We tried to delegate to make communicating with vendors go smoothly.

For the flowers, my general theme was romantic secret garden, and a combination of white, pale pink, and pale blue, but going into it I didn’t know a lot about flowers. My mother-in-law found Rogue Flowers in Edinburgh, and they were a godsend. Alice and her team listened to what I wanted and were very creative with both the indoor and outdoor spaces. I wanted flowers that were loose, textured, somewhat delicate, not too matchy, and incorporating thistles, Scotland’s national flower. Alice had wonderful in-season recommendations, including David Austin roses, spray roses, Queen Anne’s Lace, baby’s breath, Scabiosa Annabella, Hydrangea, White Saponaria, wild tumbling roses, and peonies. For greenery she incorporated dusty miller and herbs like eucalyptus and sage. In addition, they brought in potted plants, rustic boxes, and trees for outside the tent, vines and moss for the entrance, and built two hanging flower chandeliers. Flowers were a huge factor inside the white, draped tent, giving a romantic, garden feel. It was truly so beautiful! Thistles were used in all of the bouquets and on the tables. They developed into a wedding motif on our rehearsal dinner invitations and cocktail napkins, too.

We considered a few different companies for catering, considering prices for extras like waitstaff, extra hours, and corkage. We ultimately chose Ginger Snap because of their great reviews, timely email responses, and flexibility with adjusting the menu as we planned. They also provided an event manager on the day (who helped to keep us on schedule), flatware and china, and tables and chairs. My mother was in charge of the catering and planned a great cocktail hour with passed hors d’oeuvres, including miniature fish and chips and different meat and vegetarian options. Simon Chadwick, a local harpist, played the medieval Scottish harp. We also had a few tall tables and sofas outside so that guests could enjoy the garden setting. The groom and I were piped into the garden by the bagpiper, and enjoyed the cocktail hour outdoors with our guests. Our signature cocktails were Pimm’s Cups and poured Champagne, and there was an open bar.

We had ninety-nine guests, and I was adamant that I wanted long tables inside the tent. I wanted it to feel like a big dinner party, where I could look both across and down the tables at all the people I loved talking with. I had a few people fight me on the table issue, I think because round tables are so popular, but I am so glad I stuck to my guns. It was exactly how I imagined. The tables were covered with long cream tablecloths, and lots of low vases of flowers and candles. My mother-in-law bought antique crystal salt cellars, antique silver pepper shakers, and salt spoons at Round Top Antique Show, and brought them over in her suitcase. The pink himalayan sea salt matched the flowers perfectly, and was a fun way to salt your food! The groom and I took charge of the seating chart. Getting that and the floor plan just right took adjusting, but it was worth the effort!

We did the first dance right after the cocktail hour. To get people to their assigned seats there were escort cards in the entrance tent, and place cards at people’s seat, calligraphed by Barbara Biddle Calligraphy in a French blue ink. Waiters served Champagne and then a plated appetizer as the fathers, maid of honor, and groom made toasts. There were a lot of tears and laughs! Waiters then invited people up to the buffet table by table. Ginger Snap served beautifully, with just a few items on a lovely dish at a time, with their wait staff discreetly refilling as people came through the line. There were three entree options: Scottish salmon with hollandaise, ricotta and spinach ravioli, and warm beef with béarnaise sauce. Ginger Snap also had a lot of options for additional sides, like roasted veggies and potatoes, which was a great way to make sure everyone had lots of choices!

There were two rented sofas on the edge of the dance floor, and my mother-in-law made pillows from a fabric we chose, and had some embroidered with our initials. That fabric was also used to cover the cake table and cocktail tables outside. Some guests sat and others stood to watch the father-daughter dance after dinner, and then the mother-son pair joined us. This opened up the dancing. Our band was called Pork Pie Band, and they also provided a DJ. Because we planned from abroad, we were only able to watch videos and listen online. I was pleased with how upbeat and fun they were; our friends danced all night. A priority for me was finding a venue that let us stay late without charging extra. The ceremony was at 4:30, and the party went from about 6 until 1:30 AM!

Instead of doing a formal cake with fondant, Bibi’s Bakery baked a four-tier cake with more budget-friendly buttercream frosting and lemon, Victoria sponge, and vanilla alternating inside. The florist decorated with fresh flowers. We rented a set of vintage teacups and dessert plates from The Green Cockatoo, and coffee was served with the cake when the band was taking a break.

Sarah Gormley, our photographer, has a candid, personal style. Her photos really have been a second set of eyes for our wedding day; she captured everything from getting ready at the Old Course Hotel, to our first look near the seventeenth hole of the Old Course, and portraits down by the water after the ceremony. She was also great at catching poignant moments between families, couples and friends, and late-night dancing. I am so glad to see these spontaneous moments after the fact. While some of our friends from college still live in the UK, other guests traveled from China, Indonesia, Netherlands, Germany, Texas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and North Carolina. I can’t believe how far people came to celebrate with us, and everything our parents did to make our day special. A tip for brides would be to close your eyes and imagine just how you want your day to feel. Surround yourself with people and a style that reflects and spreads your love and happiness!

Credits

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