7th July 2016
Venue | The Waterside Hotel, West Kilbride
Photography | Pulze Photography
“Scott and I have known each other since we were 13. I used to come up to Scotland to visit family every year and one summer, his mum forced him to take me to play tennis – which he reluctantly did! We eventually got together in 2012 when I moved up to Scotland for a job. We got engaged in January 2015.
We changed our minds so many times about where the wedding would be. We provisionally booked a manor house in Wales, then decided against it. Our second venue was in America, but we found out it was being refurbished, so that fell by the wayside too. By chance, I discovered The Waterside in Ayrshire while dress shopping and we knew instantly it was ‘the one’.
The team at the venue were absolutely amazing. Everything ran smoothly and they couldn’t have been more helpful. Our guests commented on how lovely the staff were and how fantastic the food was. Special thanks has to go to our wedding co-ordinator Ryan who made sure everything was perfect.
We wanted a really simple and relaxed ceremony without a lot of fuss. On the morning of the wedding, the sun decided to shine so we had the ceremony outside. Our minister, Scott Rae, conducted a beautiful ceremony. It turned out our wedding was one of his last before retiring.
We decided to organise a lot of the finishing touches ourselves. My bridesmaids were a huge part of this, so the night before the wedding, we spent the evening decorating the venue with table plans, place cards and table names. It was so much fun.
I really enjoyed getting ready in the morning. It was surprisingly chilled out, perhaps due to the champagne breakfast! The wedding party photos were also a highlight: we all laughed so much. One of the photos was of the groomsmen lying on the grass with the bridesmaids pretending to hit them with their bouquet – but one of my bridesmaids misunderstood the request and actually started battering my brother with her flowers! We were all in stitches!”
Top tip: “Don’t go to too many bridal shops! It took me 11 months to find my dress. I felt quite lost because I’d been to so many places. I’d urge other brides-to-be to keep it simple.”
Dress Opus Couture
Bride’s shoes Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaids’ dresses Eliza & Ethan
Rings Laing Edinburgh
Groomswear Highlander Tartan Wear
Cake baked by a family friend
Stationery Emilie Rose
Photobooth Pulze Photography
Flowers The Flower Shed Monkton (01292 479777)
Entertainment Waterfront
Hair Jena Kyle-Crawford at New Image Salon
Makeup Louise Ballantine
