Rachel Ferguson & Alistair Smith
7th April 2018
Venue | Sorn Parish Church and Sorn Castle, Ayrshire
Photography | Mike Meller Photography
“Minutes after we got engaged, we had decided on our honeymoon destination: the Galápagos Islands. It took us another few days to pinpoint our venues. I grew up in Sorn in Ayrshire, so the village has a special place in my heart. We settled on its parish church and held the reception at Sorn Castle.
Our church ceremony was attended by 80 guests and led by Rev. David Albon. My dad’s choir, the Aeolian Male Voice Choir, sang through the service which was really special. My gran and Ally’s dad did readings which meant an awful lot to us too.
The music really made our day. Grant Donald played the piano; our good friends David and Stephen MacIlwraith sang at our reception and there was a special first dance performance from another pal, Stephanie McKnight. After our spin on the dancefloor, my little cousins played a song which they wrote. It was amazing!
We didn’t want many ‘posed’ photos. We wanted to capture our day as it unfolded – so much so, we decided against going away for photos at all on the day of the wedding as we wanted to spend as much time with guests as we could. Photographer Mike Meller obliged and offered us a post-wedding photoshoot which was ideal. We got our outfits back on and went to Maidens Beach in Ayrshire (where Ally proposed) for pictures of us together.
There are too many highlights to recount. From my mum and sister presenting me with a ‘journey book’ containing pictures and messages from throughout the wedding planning, to walking in a big procession from the church to the castle with the piper playing at the front, there’s not a memory I won’t treasure forever.”
Top tip: “If I were to do it all again, I would get married earlier than 1pm, so I could spend more time with my guests.”
Dress The Bridal Courtyard
Bridesmaids’ dresses David’s Bridal
Groomswear McCallums Highlandwear
Flowers Every Bloomin’ Thing
Ceremony music Aeolian Male Voice Choir
Entertainment Sugarush
Filmmaker PV Films
Hair Heavenly Hair and Makeup
Makeup Makeup by Gemma
