Megan Jane Sands and Calum George McIntyre
3rd June 2023
Venue | Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
Photography | Photography by Emilie
Words by Amy Shearer
How many bridesmaids are enough? Four? Seven? Ten? Megan, who married Calum in the summer, had 11. That could have meant all sorts of tantrums and fallings-out on the morning of the wedding – just imagine a dozen women fighting for elbow room in front of the mirror! But this bride had it all worked out: “You’d think it would be stressful but it really wasn’t,” she says with a smile. “We spent such a relaxed morning at my parents’ house, sipping champers, laughing and dancing around until it was time to leave!”
That wasn’t down to luck; what really helped was bringing in the professionals. Megan had enlisted the help of a six-strong team of hair and makeup artists to get her and the rest of the gang ready for the day ahead. There is a common misconception that a full glam squad is the preserve of celebs; they’re used to being surrounded by beauty experts prepping them for the red carpet with eyeshadow or lip gloss. But your wedding day is your A-lister moment, so why not go all out?
Megan and Calum tied the knot in front of 125 of their nearest and dearest at the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews, with another 60 friends joining the fun in the evening. Their choice of venue was dictated by wanting somewhere easy to get to, with a timeless feel that would delight their guests whether they hailed from Scotland or from as far away as Singapore.
“We wanted to marry in a hotel as we felt it would be less stressful,” Megan explains. “We shortlisted a couple of places, and the Old Course Hotel came out on top. We loved the fact that its Hall of Champions wing was available for us – it gave us a very exclusive day. Having the conservatory for the ceremony and Green Sheds for our drinks reception meant we could enjoy the beautiful views from the hotel too.”
A delicious menu was crucial to the pair, who worked with the hotel’s catering team to get the food just right. “It was amazing!” raves the bride. “Instead of starters, we had large buffet grazing tables during our drinks reception – antipasto, veggie boards and seafood. Then, for the main course, there were three choices, plus a veggie option for each guest. And the fizz was all Laurent-Perrier champagne, which everyone absolutely loved!”
The couple picked the hotel’s Forever package, and say the team at the Old Course went “above and beyond” for them both before and on the big day itself. “During the lead up and especially on our wedding day, the staff were incredible – so friendly and helpful. They totally eased any stresses,” commends Megan. “On one visit, Lara and Jack in the operations team actually went to the trouble of setting up the whole dining room for us, just so we could see what it would look like. They were fantastic!”
Their special day, which was soundtracked by DJ Elisha and covers band Groove Culture, had many standout moments, say the newlyweds: “The ceremony was full of love and laughs. We selected friends and family to give us their marriage advice – let’s just say some people were absolutely hilarious! We also hosted a game of musical chairs where we picked a player from each table. There were a few funny falls and dance moves and it was so entertaining for all the guests,” they smile. “It was a brilliant day – we wouldn’t change a single thing about it.”
Wedding Dress Suzanne Neville from Eleganza Sposa
Shoes and accessories Charlotte Mills
Bridesmaids dresses Various websites including & Other Stories, Reformation, and ASOS
Mother of the bride outfit Savin London
Groomswear 8 Yards
Celebrant Humanist Les Grey
Cake Nicolls Bakery
Flowers Blooming Wild Floristry
Venue décor Old Course Hotel
Engagement/wedding rings and jewellery Ian Gallacher
Band Groove Culture
Filmmaker I Do Videos
Transport Chauffeurs of Carnoustie and Fishers Tours
Hair Ladies Lounge Hair by Lisa
Nails Rose Room Beauty by Silda
Makeup Janna Brogan – MUA
