Our September-October issue is out now

From wondrous wedding gowns, to wondering if social media can be a positive influence on planning, our new issue has got your big day covered

According to a recent Hitched survey, 42% of couples feel under pressure to have an Insta-worthy wedding, with almost a third confessing to spending more to make it happen

We’re all susceptible to those dopamine-driven feedback loops as the ‘likes’ on a picture climb upwards, but is social media a positive force when it comes to weddings? The September-October issue of Tie the Knot Scotland investigates.

One thing’s for sure, Instagram heaven exists at impressive new South Queensferry venue, Barnbougle Castle. It provides the backdrop for our ‘Go Big or Go Home’ photoshoot that showcases voluminous skirts, dramatic trains and decadent fabrics – these are dresses for your moment in the spotlight. We also look at veils, the ultimate w-day accessory, and ways to cut costs, not corners, when looking for the dress of your dreams.

Grooms’ attire takes centre stage in the second of our fashion stories, captured at the plush Bonham Hotel in Edinburgh. From checked suits to contemporary kilts, there’s no shortage of sartorial options to keep the boys happy.

The four newlywed guys we chat to about their Highlandwear shopping experiences certainly are: we hear tales of can’t-do-without bow ties and impeccably fitted tartan trews.

Disclaimer: top buttons may need to be loosened after feasting on our big-day foodie features. We discover how caterers make crowd-pleasing dishes extra special, alongside rounding up some of the country’s top epicurean locations.

Elsewhere in our 117-page venues guide, we find out how to make the most of historical settings and suggest awesome alfresco spots, including bandstands and rooftop gardens.

The great outdoors plays a starring role in our real weddings this issue too. We speak to one couple who eloped from America to the Isle of Skye and lucked out with the weather, while another bride who married in the Highlands just a few days earlier tells us how she almost went blue during the ceremony because of the cold!

And if the spectacular russet façade of Carlowrie Castle, the picture-perfect setting for another duo’s nuptials, doesn’t make you hanker after an autumn wedding, we don’t know what will.

Find the new issue of Tie the Knot Scotland at selected retailers or treat yourself to a six-issue subscription for just £18.