Nina and Fraser booked the Barn at Barra Castle as soon as they were engaged, and their big day all fell into place easily, as the bride recalls...
Nina Batty & Fraser Baird
19th July 2019
Venue | The Barn at Barra Castle, Aberdeenshire
Photography | Aboyne Photographics
“We booked the Barn at Barra Castle within a week of being engaged. It’s beautifully designed: rustic but modern with quirky touches. We were taken with the timber beams and full-length windows showing off the stunning views.
The venue has a picturesque backdrop looking on to Bennachie (a local hill) where we had one of our first dates walking to the top, and there are abundant photo opportunities, especially in the surrounding barley fields.
I was brought up on a farm. In the summer, I would have my friends round for drinks and parties on the outdoor decking. Consequently, the idea of an informal, alfresco party with all our nearest and dearest really appealed to me.
I always envisaged flowers as being an important part of the occasion. I already followed local florist Trina’s Art & Flowers on Instagram, and after meeting with Trina, the ideas came alive. Her attention to detail must be commended. She excelled herself with our feature ladder-arch at the top of the aisle.
Fraser and I are notorious for having tequila when we go out. We decided to surprise our guests with a display of tequila shots and a sign reading: ‘Take a shot and take your seat’. Needless to say, it went down a treat with them. It’s probably also why our Polaroid guestbook is filled with drunken messages that made for very funny reading the following morning.
I hadn’t dreamt about my ideal wedding dress from a young age like a lot of girls do. That said, I had an inkling that I wanted something fitted. Ivory Grace is a beautiful little boutique in Aberdeen and the third shop that I visited. I was instantly smitten with the Stephanie Allin dress I tried on.
Looking back, our main highlight was seeing one another as I walked down the aisle. We had both waited so long for that moment that it was thrilling finally laying eyes on each other.
I was surprised at how relaxed the rest of the day was. Everything fell into place. It genuinely was a massive party with all our friends and family, which was the best feeling ever!”
Top tip: “Facebook Marketplace for bargains. We looked at old-fashioned bikes for sale to add a decorative touch, but after realising they were quite expensive, Fraser found a second-hand one going dirt cheap. After a lick of paint, it looked brilliant. We added a cute basket at the front and our florist dressed it in blooms.”
Venue The Barn at Barra Castle, Aberdeenshire
Photography Aboyne Photographics
Bride’s dress Ivory Grace
Bridesmaids’ dresses Hobbs
Celebrant Sharon Short at Humanist Association Scotland
Catering and furniture hire Country Flavours of Alford
Cake Cakes by Kirsty
Flowers Trina’s Art and Flowers
Stationery Love Paper Co
Filmmaker Simple Wedding Films
Entertainment Myke Black and Sneaky Treacle
Hair Michelle Reid
Makeup Tracey Cepeda
