Ditch the dress, drop the dinner and get on the dancefloor! These two brides did exactly that at their on-trend twilight wedding at a new Glasgow venue
Emily and Allison’s twilight wedding at The Exchange, Glasgow was filled with laughter, rich-red styling and personal touches. With 100 guests, faux floral arrangements and a Valentine’s-meets-Vegas theme, their city-centre celebration was as unique as their love story.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | The Exchange, Glasgow city centre
Photography | Lewis MacMichael Photography
Date | 26th April 2025
Guests | 100 family and friends
Ceremony | Personal and light-hearted humanist ceremony led by Morna Kidd of Fuze Ceremonies
Entertainment | DJ provided by The Exchange, with first dance to Frank Sinatra’s The Way You Look Tonight
Styling | Twilight wedding with a “Valentine’s Day meets Vegas Little White Chapel” theme in burgundy and rich red, with slot machine favours, cupid guestbook and faux floral arrangements
Read on for the full story...
A New York proposal with Sinatra
Emily did things her way when planning her proposal to Allison, who she’d been with since the second half of 2020.
“We were on holiday in September last year in New York and planned an evening at the Carnegie Club, a jazz and cigar lounge. It happened to be ‘Frank Sinatra Saturday’ so I got in touch with the management to let them know I planned to pop the question while the band played ‘The Way You Look Tonight’. They worked with me on all the details, and it turned out to be the perfect night – especially when Allie said yes,” laughs Emily.
Choosing a Glasgow twilight wedding
The Glasgow-based couple quickly set their sights on a twilight wedding package at The Exchange.
“The more relaxed agenda that a twilight wedding offers – a later start to the day (4pm) and no formal dinner – appealed to us,” explains Allie.
“We adored The Exchange’s sophisticated feel and the variety of rooms it offers for different parts of the day. It was the first time there for most of our 100 guests, and they were blown away.”
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Food, styling and a Vegas-Valentine’s vibe
No sit-down meal didn’t mean no food. “The veggie couple were really impressed with the buffet options and with the venue’s ‘friendly and accommodating’ staff.
“The Exchange team made the day run like clockwork.”
The Exchange’s interiors already shine, but Emily and Allie layered in subtle details:
- Burgundy and deep red colour scheme
- Cupid design on the guestbook
- Slot machine-themed pockets for scratch-card favours
- Red velvet love heart ring holder
- Candy jars with red bows
“We incorporated a subtle ‘Valentine’s Day meets Vegas Little White Chapel’ vibe,” says Emily.
A special touch was a charm on Allie’s bouquet with a photo of her and her late stepmum. “It’s my favourite keepsake from the wedding,” says Allie.
The brides rented faux bouquets and venue arrangements from Hire and Admire Blooms. “We were so pleased with them,” Emily adds.
Planning with spreadsheets and outfit shopping
When it came to organisation, the couple kept things practical:
“We had tabs for suppliers, costs and when payments were due, and another to manage RSVPs,” smiles Emily.
The brides shopped separately:
- Allie chose a Kelsey Rose dress from The White Outlet in Glasgow.
“It was the first dress in the second shop I visited – there was no messing around!”
- Emily opted for a chic white suit by Claudie Pierlot.
“I showed Allie my outfit ahead of the wedding as I needed her opinion on it (haha!), but I didn’t see her in her dress until she walked down the aisle.”
Wedding music choices
Both brides walked in with their dads, with carefully chosen songs setting the scene:
- Emily – Baby I’m Yours by Arctic Monkeys
- Bridesmaids – acoustic Sunday Morning by Maroon 5
- Allie – Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer
The first dance held special meaning:
“It was to ‘The Way You Look Tonight’, the same Frank Sinatra tune we’d got engaged to. Our DJ came as part of the package at The Exchange. She was excellent, took our requests and delivered on the good vibes.”
Ceremony, speeches and celebrations
Celebrant Morna Kidd of Fuze Ceremonies made the ceremony extra personal:
“We’d shared stories about them with Morna, and she then incorporated a shout-out to each of them in the ceremony… It was a nice touch that all our guests got to know a bit more about them too!”
“The ceremony was so special and lovely, and we laughed through most of it,” continues Emily.
Check out another twilight wedding with a family focus at The Exchange
Four speeches followed at the reception (Allie’s dad John, Emily, maid of honour Sheryl and best man Sean). “We absolutely adored them! Laughs and tears – what more can you want?”
The night continued with dancing: “After that everyone just let their hair down and got on the dancefloor!”
Looking back, the couple wouldn’t change a thing.
“We were surprised at how everything just comes together on the day and rolls so naturally. Even tiny things that don’t go exactly as planned don’t cross your mind, even though you might have been obsessing about them in the weeks leading up.”
The brides’ top wedding planning tip
“Don’t put too much pressure on having every bell and whistle for your wedding because it’s being pushed as the new ‘normal’. You need to be completely happy with your day, and the costs associated with them. Your wedding is filled with your biggest supporters; nobody is micro analysing it. Take advice when you need it but don’t let others dictate either.”
Allison and Emily's wedding teaser film by Robynne Marie Creative
Wedding supplier list
Venue, food, decor, DJ and on-the-day stationery The Exchange, Glasgow
Photography Lewis MacMichael Photography
Filmmaker Robynne Marie Creative
Celebrant Morna Kidd, Fuze Ceremonies
Allison’s dress Kelsey Rose from The White Outlet, with custom-made Elizabeth Whibley veil
Emily’s suit Claudie Pierlot
Alterations Finnieston Alterations
Bridesmaid dresses Quiz and Vinted
Best men’s kilts Slanj Kilts
Brides’ hair Wundercut Hair; Anna Chiesa Hair
Bridal party hair Anna Chiesa Hair; The Flamingo Room
Makeup Makeup by Darcy Duncan; Ava McCrystal Makeup & Beauty
Nails Rachael at Studio 104
Tan Amanda at OnDemand Mobile
Allison’s rings Ernest Jones and Chisholm Hunter
Emily’s rings Remodelled engagement ring from mum and Austen & Blake
Flowers Hire and Admire Blooms
Cake Abigail Brooker
Stationery DIY on Canva then printed on Vistaprint/Printed.com
