Sara McNaull & Cameron Nicol
14th July 2018
Venue | Colstoun House, East Lothian
Photography | Ricky Baillie Photography
“Colstoun House in East Lothian really helped us with our vision of a big, relaxed get-together. We could hire it for the whole weekend and there were so many spaces to use. We had our ceremony outside under a floral arch, drinks were served on the lawn, then it was onto the Coach House for our reception.
As it was a blank-canvas venue, we could dress it up as we wanted. This initiated lots of research and DIY, but meant we could have things just as we imagined them. We enlisted the help of family and friends for wrapping favours (marshmallows made in Colstoun’s kitchen with ingredients from the gardens), making confetti cones, table centrepieces and place settings and painting order-of-the-day pallets and mirror signs.
When it came to the dress, I knew I wanted something fitted and unfussy. I tried on a Catriona Garforth dress and lace jacket in Kudos Bridal Boutique in Edinburgh. When I started comparing every other dress I tried on to this one, I knew I needed to go back for it.
Photographer Ricky Baillie had shot my brother’s wedding previously. We knew his unposed, relaxed style was exactly what we were looking for. He was our first port of call and, luckily, was available on our date.
The day was filled with countless highlights. Walking over the lawn with my dad – following the bridal party to the skirl of my uncle’s bagpipes, and reaching that moment of walking down the aisle, seeing Cameron at the end of it – was spine tingling. The surprise song that my dad wrote and sang as part of his father-of-the-bride speech will stay with me forever too – there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”
Top tip: “Make your budget and planning spreadsheet early. It made our lives so much easier knowing what we’d booked and when, what still needed done and how much we’d spent. Don’t forget: you’ll always spend more than you expect.”
Bride’s dress and mother-of-the-bride outfit Kudos Bridal Boutiques
Bridesmaids’ dresses ASOS
Groomswear 21st Century Kilts
Rings Laings
Celebrant Julie Reid at Humanist Society Scotland
Cake Liggy’s Cake Company
Catering Ginger Snap
Drinks supplier Great Grog
Flowers and decor Adelaide’s Secret Garden
Stationery Papier
Filmmaker Cinemate
Entertainment Woo Hoo Band
Hair G. D. Hair
Makeup Ciara McKenzie
