17th June 2017
Venue | The Coo Cathedral, Aboyne
Photography | Aboyne Photographics
“People can get quite snooty if you’re planning a big-budget wedding. However, we worked really hard for over two years to get the wedding we’d dreamed of, taking on second jobs and scrimping and saving to ensure that our guests had an amazing day.
When it came to finding a location, we only visited the Coo Cathedral and didn’t feel the need to look elsewhere – it was absolutely perfect. Originally the cow byre for Aboyne Castle Estate, it has been transformed into a beautiful location with so much space and opportunity.
Our biggest wedding bargain was my dress. It was the first gown I tried on, but I decided not to take the plunge that day – a decision I soon regretted. However, on another day of shopping, I found the exact same dress, available in my size off-the-peg at half the price I’d seen it previously! I also bought a £1.99 veil off eBay which I ended up wearing on the day.
Caterer Country Flavours of Alford made one of the best meals we’ve ever had. After a tasting (definitely the best part of wedding planning!), we settled for a Cambus o’ May tartlet, Doric chicken and a trio of desserts. Our evening guests were treated to a magnificent hog roast, while Portsoy Ice Cream provided delicious frozen treats during the drinks reception.
When it came to our big day’s look, we were primarily inspired by our venue, the surrounding countryside and the Baird tartan. This meant a laid-back, rustic scheme with lots of purple and cream, alongside greenery to match Allan’s family check. Venue stylist 3 Tiers Creative took this on board, but we essentially let them do their own thing. They were so creative and full of ideas. The lighting they put up for us was spectacular. Once the sun went down, the whole place had a different feel – it was absolutely beautiful.”
Top tip: “Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about doing what you want to do with your wedding, but don’t get yourself into debt. You’ll be amazed how much you can save when you set your mind to it.”
Dress I Do Bridalwear
Groomswear McCalls
Venue décor 3 Tiers Creative
Cake Couture Wedding Cakes by Sweetcheeks
Flowers Hay’s Flowers
Stationery Made by Rae
Catering Country Flavours of Alford
Entertainment Ghillie Dhu and Edinburgh Fun Casino
Photobooth Odd Box Photo Booth
Filmmaker Flat 4D Media
Transport Fairview Wedding Cars
Hair Michelle Reid
Makeup Francine Ray
