What started in Tesco culminated beside the Swilcan Bridge. Katie and Dean’s celebration combined pop culture, sweet personal details and timeless white wedding style
Katie and Dean’s Old Course Hotel, Golf and Spa wedding in St Andrews blended elegance with personal touches. Their Scottish wedding venue overlooking the famous Old Course golf course provided the perfect setting for a romantic humanist ceremony, white wedding flowers and decor and golden-hour portraits on the iconic Swilcan Bridge.
Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
Date | 16th August 2025
Photography | Karolina Kotkiewicz Photography
Guests | 60 for ceremony; 105 for reception
Decor | Classic white palette with gypsophila (baby’s breath) florals
Ceremony | Humanist ceremony by John Leo Scott, Fuze Ceremonies
Entertainment | Stevie McCrorie live first dance, DJ Euan Lawrence, fireworks and Highland cows
A supermarket romance
Katie and Dean’s love story began in a different kind of aisle entirely – the Tesco kind.
“I was in a lot, shopping with my mum, and Dean worked there,” Katie tells us. “He asked a colleague if she could find out who I was and then he added me on Facebook. But my family had just moved house, and we had no Wi-Fi – I didn’t see the friend request for about a week.”
Fortunately, Dean hadn’t given up hope. Katie eventually replied, and the pair quickly became a couple.
Dean proposed in November 2023 and the couple set their wedding date 21 months later. “It felt like the perfect amount of time,” Katie says. “Not too long a wait, but long enough not to rush the planning.”
Choosing the Old Course Hotel in St Andrews
Finding their St Andrews wedding venue was surprisingly simple.
“We got engaged on 18th November, and by the following Sunday we’d viewed and booked the Old Course Hotel. It was the first and only venue we saw,” Katie recalls.
“I’d love to say it was just because of how beautiful and historic it is… but truly, I’d set my heart on it because Harry Styles had played golf there during his Love on Tour!” she laughs.
“My dad even mentioned that in his speech.”
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Beyond the celebrity connection, the couple loved the atmosphere and flexibility of the venue.
“Jess Paton, our coordinator at the hotel, was outstanding. She handled pretty much everything and it all went so smoothly thanks to her. On the day, she was like a third bridesmaid.”
Their ceremony took place in the Old Course Hotel conservatory, while the reception was held in the Hall of Champions, a versatile space the couple styled to suit their vision.
Elegant styling and meaningful personal details
Katie envisioned an “elegant and unfussy” wedding aesthetic with classic white tones running throughout the day.
Clouds of gypsophila (baby’s breath) appeared in bouquets and floral installations. “Mostly because Dean was convinced it was called dragon’s breath,” she laughs.
Personal details were everywhere. Guests received pet-themed drinks charms, personalised napkins, drinks stirrers featuring the couple’s cats and dogs, bespoke newspapers and custom menus.
Katie also added a sentimental detail to her bouquet. “I even got personalised ribbon to tie around my bouquet with ‘it was always you’ on it, a line from our favourite song by The Vaccines.”
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Another meaningful tribute honoured Dean’s late mum. “I commissioned a drawing of her and it was displayed near us during the meal. It’s really special and we can hang it in our house now.”
One of the couple’s most thoughtful ideas was writing handwritten letters for every guest.
“We wrote about a favourite memory we shared with them,” Katie explains. “It went down so well and was a real ice-breaker.”
A relaxed humanist ceremony
The ceremony was led by John Leo Scott of Fuze Ceremonies, who immediately put the couple at ease.
“We asked for it to be as quick as possible – romantic, I know!” Katie jokes. “But the thought of standing up there made us so nervous.”
Despite months of anxiety, the moment itself felt surprisingly calm.
“I’m the most anxious person ever and was nervous for months before the wedding… but on the morning the anxiety just vanished.”
Dean’s favourite moment was seeing Katie walk down the aisle to Lana Del Rey’s Video Games.
“Katie walking down the aisle will stay with me forever. The emotions I felt were overwhelming. She was absolutely breathtaking – even if she did keep me waiting an hour,” he laughs.
Swilcan Bridge portraits and an unforgettable evening
One highlight of the day was slipping away for golden-hour photos on the iconic Swilcan Bridge.
“It felt so peaceful, like all the months of hard work had paid off,” Katie says.
The couple’s first dance was equally special. With Katie a devoted Swiftie, they chose Lover, performed live by Stevie McCrorie, winner of The Voice.
“He was honestly amazing,” says Dean. “His version of the song was just incredible.”
The evening celebrations continued with DJ Euan Lawrence of Tartan Entertainment, fireworks lighting up the night sky and a surprise appearance from Highland cows Rab and Heather.
This Falside Mill wedding also featured Highland cows
“My maid of honour Kayleigh is obsessed with Highland cows,” Katie laughs. “When she walked out and saw them she started crying!”
Looking back, the couple wouldn’t change a thing.
“Honestly, everything went exactly as it was supposed to,” Katie says. “We tried not to sweat the small stuff and just be in the moment together.”
Wedding suppliers
Venue Old Course Hotel, Golf & Spa, St Andrews
Celebrant John Leo Scott, Fuze Ceremonies
Photography Karolina Kotkiewicz Photography
Filmmaker Cherry Tree Films
Wedding dress Eleganza Sposa
Bridal bag Sophia Webster
Shoes Jimmy Choo
Bridal jewellery Cartier and Van Cleef (a necklace gifted from the groom)
Hair accessories Victoria Percival
Makeup Heather Niblo Makeup Artistry
Hair Pamela Docherty, Pam Doc Hair
Bridesmaid dresses Sisterhood Bridesmaids
Mother of the bride’s outfit Catherines of Partick
Groomswear Highland Kilt Connections
Groom’s watch Gucci, a gift from the bride
Rings Ian Gallacher Jewellers and Cartier
Cake The Kilted Cake Company
Flowers Serendipity Flowers
Venue decor and table plan Enlighten My Day
Menus Mally’s Crafts
Ceremony and drinks reception music Fiona MacKenzie, Fionn Music
Magician Stephen MacKenzie
Reception music Stevie McCrorie
Reception DJ and entertainment Euan Lawrence, Tartan Entertainment
Highland cows Crazy Critters Experience
Live painter Emma Shearer Art
Content creation Social Brides Club
Fireworks 21cc Group
