Nicole and Ryan’s Scottish castle wedding was a relaxed affair with a vibrant pink-and-red colour scheme and lots of Aperol Spritz
Nicole and Ryan's Scottish castle wedding near Edinburgh brought together 100 guests, vibrant pink-and-red wedding flowers, a surprise New Orleans-style brass band and plenty of Aperol Spritz. From Nicole’s bespoke Suzanne Neville wedding dress to a waterfront drinks reception, their big day was all about celebrating with their favourite people.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Venue | Barnbougle Castle, South Queensferry
Date | 13th September 2025
Photography | Georgia Smith Photography
Guests | 100
Decor | Pink-and-red flowers and venue styling by Gloam
Ceremony | Civil ceremony conducted by a City of Edinburgh Council registrar
Entertainment | Brass band and wedding DJ
Last-minute wedding morning drama
At 6pm the night before her wedding, Nicole received a text message no bride wants to see: her hairstylist was cancelling.
“Apparently, they'd double-booked. My first hairstylist had already cancelled on me a month earlier, so at that point all I could do was laugh.”
Thankfully, Nicole's cousin Emma sprang into action and secured an appointment with her own hairdresser, Natalie at Calder & Calder in Edinburgh's west end.
“Natalie wasn't even supposed to be working that morning but she came in to the salon just to sort me out – I couldn't be more grateful!”
The unexpected salon visit actually turned out to be a lovely start to the day, helping Nicole relax before the celebrations began.
A bespoke Suzanne Neville wedding dress
Nicole and Ryan spent two years planning their Scottish castle wedding, although they admit that their own indecision sometimes slowed things down.
“We sometimes caused our own problems – neither of us was very decisive, which made the process seem more drawn-out than it maybe had to be,” laughs Nicole.
Wedding dress shopping was particularly challenging. After visiting several bridal boutiques, Nicole became overwhelmed by the choices and stopped looking for a while.
Eventually, she returned to Rachel Scott Couture in Edinburgh, where the team helped her create a bespoke Suzanne Neville gown combining the top of one design with the skirt of another.
What's the difference between customisation and bespoke wedding dresses?
“This meant I never actually saw the dress itself until around a month before the wedding. In hindsight, I think this was perfect for me as it meant I couldn't spend any time wondering if it was the right one or not!”
A relaxed ceremony at Barnbougle Castle
The couple loved Barnbougle Castle's historic character, waterfront setting and proximity to Edinburgh.
“We loved how remote Barnbougle Castle felt being right on the Firth of Forth, but still so close to Edinburgh,” says Nicole. “It's quirky and historic with so many rooms that we were able to take advantage of.”
Find out more about weddings at Barnbougle Castle
Their civil wedding ceremony was conducted by registrar Jackie Blackburn from the City of Edinburgh Council.
Nicole walked down the aisle with her dad while her cousin Kris played piano. Friends and family also contributed readings and music, helping make the ceremony feel personal.
“That part is a bit of a blur, if I'm honest, but we loved having friends and family involved in the music and readings. It made the civil ceremony much more personal.”
Surprise brass band and Aperol Spritz by the Firth of Forth
One of the biggest surprises came immediately after the ceremony, when New Orleans-style brass band Brass Gumbo appeared to play the newlyweds and their guests out.
“It was really fun and a surprise for our guests. It was also a nice alternative to a piper,” smiles Nicole.
The band continued playing during the drinks reception, while guests enjoyed the September weather on Barnbougle Castle's terrace overlooking the Firth of Forth.
An Aperol Spritz bar proved particularly popular.
Scotland's finest waterside and lochside wedding venues
Gloam wedding flowers and styling
Meanwhile, florist and venue stylist Gloam brought Nicole's colourful wedding vision to life with pink-and-red floral arrangements throughout the castle.
“Kate totally helped me overcome my lack of creativity by identifying key ‘moments’ through the day and venue, and was transparent about what we did and didn't need. On the day, everything was seamless and the flowers were beautiful.”
Find more gorgeous castle wedding venues across Scotland
Photographer Georgia Smith captured the celebrations naturally, which was exactly what the camera-shy couple wanted.
“We were both clear that we didn't want to disappear for hours getting pictures and miss out on time with our guests, and Georgia was so good at just capturing the day as it happened. Relaxed. Natural. Perfect!”
Wedding breakfast set-up at Barnbougle Castle
Dinner took place in Barnbougle Castle's barrel-vaulted banqueting hall, where large windows overlook the water.
Instead of sitting at a traditional top table, Nicole and Ryan joined their guests at long banqueting tables, creating a more relaxed atmosphere.
Caterer Wilde Thyme served burrata and heritage tomatoes with Bloody Mary sorbet, followed by chicken marinated in herbs from the castle estate and passionfruit torte.
“Everything we ate was unbelievable.”
Although the couple's dog Flora couldn't attend, she was included in spirit through personalised napkins featuring the words ‘Cheers, B*tches!’
Their advice for couples planning a Scottish wedding
Nicole and Ryan recommend booking favourite wedding suppliers as early as possible, having discovered just how quickly popular names fill their diaries.
“The sooner you can pin down the ones you really care about, the better – it takes a lot of pressure off.”
But their biggest piece of advice is to make time for each other during the celebrations.
“Those few wee moments just the two of us were so nice. One of them was right after the ceremony over a glass of fizz while everyone else was being rounded up for the confetti toss. We were both just so buzzing!”
Wedding suppliers
Venue Barnbougle Castle, South Queensferry
Registrar Jackie Blackburn, City of Edinburgh Council
Photography Georgia Smith Photography
Filmmaker Craig Heaslip Wedding Films
Wedding dress and alterations Suzanne Neville from Rachel Scott Couture, worn with Jimmy Choo shoes and Jennifer Behr earrings
Groomswear Reiss
Rings Rachel Boston
Makeup Rachel Louise Makeup Artist
Hair Natalie at Calder & Calder Hairdressing
Nails Lisa Woodage, LW Nails
Mother of the bride’s outfit Suzannah London
Mother of the groom’s outfit Bear Necessities
Cake Liggy’s Cake Company
Catering Wilde Thyme
Flowers and venue styling Gloam
Stationery Maple & Rae
Favours Limoncello miniatures
Ceremony music Kris Thomas (bride’s cousin)
Drinks reception music Brass Gumbo
Post-dinner drinks music Kiera Marks
DJ One More Tune DJs
Transport Edinburgh Classic Wedding Cars, Edi Chauffeurs and Salmond’s Coaches
