Becca Rankine & Al Conroy
25th May 2019
Venue | Fortingall Village Hall, Perthshire
Photography | Eilidh Sutherland Photography
“Al and I visited Skye in May 2018. The plan was to climb up one of our favourite mountains, Sgurr nan Gillean, and watch the sunrise over the Isle of Raasay, where my family have had a home for years. After a few hours’ sleep, the alarm woke us at 3am to hike to the summit.
Just as the sun was coming up, Al got down on one knee and proposed. As if it couldn’t get any more romantic, the ring had been designed by him and was a representation of the view of the mountain we were standing on, as seen from the beach in front of our house. It was the most perfect proposal in the most gorgeous of locations.
We had our hearts set on a venue that we could have complete free rein over. We also wanted something that had a bit of character and an element of fun. Fortingall Village Hall delivered on all of these. Its exposed roof rafters give the impression of an upturned boat, and dressed with a fairylight canopy, it really came to life.
I knew the minute we got engaged I wanted Eilidh Sutherland Photography to capture our nuptials. She had photographed my sister’s wedding and recorded the day amazingly. She strikes the right balance between co-ordinating and directing photos to get the best shots, and blending into the background to capture those special candid moments.
My dress was the biggest bargain. By some incredible stroke of luck, pre-loved store Bliss Studio in Edinburgh had a second-hand Anna Campbell gown in exactly my size. I’d fallen in love with the Australian designer’s sparkly and flowing gowns on Pinterest. It was the first dress I tried on and I didn’t want to take it off. Probably the easiest shop in the history of brides!
We’re a pretty minimalist couple so didn’t want anything fussy or formal, and wanted to eliminate unnecessary frills. I designed our stationery – and have since started an Etsy business called A Line in the Sky based on the designs.
We decided to have our mums walk down the aisle, arm in arm, ahead of the bridesmaids. Al’s dad sadly passed away a number of years ago and it was important for me to include both mothers in the ceremony.
That portion of the day was particularly poignant. Seeing all of our friends and family smiling back at us and sharing in such a wonderful moment was unforgettable.”
Top tip: “We didn’t bother with a cake. Neither of us really saw the value in spending hundreds on something that may get wasted.”
Bride’s dress Bliss Studio
Groomswear McCalls
Rings The Third Aye
Celebrant Ashton Easter at Humanist Association Scotland
Venue decor Gordon’s Cater Hire
Canopy lighting Steve Page Lighting
Catering Bespoke Catering & Events
Bar management Daisy Fay’s Wedding + Events
Flowers Coach House Flowers
Stationery Designed by the bride who now has her own Etsy shop
Entertainment Celtic Heat
Hair Laura Anderson
