This wedding at Aswanley is the epitome of summer romance with a floral wedding dress and horse and carriage
Susanne Fraser & Ross McMenemy
30th August 2019
Venue | Aswanley, Aberdeenshire
Photography | Zoe Rae Photography
“Ross and I have been a couple since 30th August 2008. We got together at school, making it our 11-year anniversary on the day we got married – a deliberate choice.
Aswanley, an exclusive-use venue near Huntly, allowed us to get married outside. Its setting is unique: where else can you get married overlooking a field of sheep in the middle of nowhere? We loved the inside just as much (important for the Scottish weather) and it had offered spaces for reception, dinner and dancing, which allowed for seamless transitions throughout the day.
The keywords for our styling were whimsical, fairytale and rustic. For our decor we were inspired by A Midsummer Night’s Dream and our table names were characters from the play.
We tackled the venue decor almost entirely by ourselves. We used natural materials like wood, hessian and glass and included a handmade post box, seating plan and graffiti wall in lieu of a guestbook. The rustic aesthetic allowed the colours to pop against it. I was surprised at how professional it all looked, despite it being done without the services of a venue decorator.
My dress was from La Novia in Edinburgh. I fell in love as soon as I put it on. It was the only one that brought a tear to my eye. The shape of the dress is very simple and traditional, however the colourful lace flowers and intricate beading gave it a unique, showstopping twist. Guests couldn’t stop complimenting me in it.
We wanted a photographer that would make us feel relaxed throughout the day. We also sought a combination of posed groups and candid snapshots. Zoe Rae and second shooter Sandie Ritchie made us feel at ease and were not intrusive in any way. We were blown away when we saw the photos – they instantly transported us back to our day.
My dad surprised me in the morning with a horse-drawn carriage to take me to Aswanley. It was such a lovely experience.
The best part of the day was the ceremony. Being able to say ‘I do’ and get married outside as we had dreamed of (despite a weather warning) was perfect. A close second was the dancing – we had so much fun and the band, Bahookie, were incredible.
Guests still reminisce about the abundance of fantastic food we served at the wedding. From the Portsoy Ice Cream treats to the wonderful meal by caterer Val Morrison; the sweetie table to the evening snacks and wedding cake: no one went home hungry.”
Top tip: “Plan as much as you can early on and take your time over big decisions. Relax on the day and don’t sweat the small stuff – the main thing is to have fun. We thought we might get a bit caught up in making sure everything was perfect, but in the event of things, we just chilled and enjoyed every moment.”
Venue Aswanley, Aberdeenshire
Photography Zoe Rae Photography
Catering Val Morrison Catering
Bride’s dress La Novia
Groomswear Mains Highlandwear
Bouquets Elegant Blooms
Venue flowers Isla Duncan Florist
Cake Cakes by Kirsty
Ice cream Portsoy Ice Cream
Stationery Paper & Petals Stationery
Ceremony music Rococo String Quartet
Reception band Bahookie
Transport Carrbridge Carriage Driving
Makeup Kara Dey, Elite Professional Beauty
Hair Steph McGougan, Headrox
