Grooms Adam and Stephen’s flamboyantly chic black-tie wedding started with an intimate ceremony that shared their love story, before the guest list quadrupled for an entertainment-filled party of a lifetime!

Adam Hewitson and Stephen White – now Mr and Mr White 

15th March 2024 

Venue | Carlowrie Castle, near Edinburgh 
Photography | Ryan Mimiec Photography

"Stephen and I got together after a mutual friend put us in touch. Stephen had looked in through the window of the hair salon I run in Cambuslang, and after our friend passed on my number, he’d texted me asking ‘Single or taken?’

The following weekend, some friends and I went for drinks in the bar he works in. Stephen took the rest of the night off, we headed in to town and the rest is history...

We were together for three years when he proposed at Christmas at my friend’s house. 
We initially booked Boclair House, but then changed to Carlowrie Castle. When we started planning, we realised quite quickly that we needed a bigger venue! 


We had a vision of an intimate ceremony with only close friends and family, then a big party at night – and that’s exactly how it worked out. We had 42 friends and family staying at the venue with us for two nights. We had 85 people for the ceremony and meal, then 350 in total for the reception. 


I do a lot of bridal hair, so I was inspired a lot by weddings I have been a part of. I’m lucky that I’ve gotten to know suppliers, so I already had an idea of who I wanted to have as part of our day. 
I’ve worked with photographer Ryan Mimiec a lot and I always loved his way with people. Not only is he an amazing photographer, he makes the morning of a wedding fun and relaxed. I wouldn’t have had anyone else capture our wedding; I recommend him to so many people. 


We hired Jordana Events and Weddings for our flowers and decor. We wanted to keep things fresh and clean-looking with lots of green and white.

Jordana provided so much more inspiration than that. She advised, for instance, we do the whole thing black tie to keep it looking smart and encouraged us to do something different with the top table. We ended up having a U-shaped one – a long table and two ‘legs’ – which was a brilliant idea.


We hired the whole castle the night before the wedding. We put on a dinner for all our friends and family so we could have some quality time together before the madness started.  


The morning of the wedding, I did all my bridesmaids’ hair, so that kept me quite calm as I had to focus.

We all had breakfast together, a few bottles of prosecco and had a wee party to ourselves.

Seeing the girls all ready and getting to spend a few minutes with my auntie and sister were special moments. Stephen spent time with his brothers and friends who had travelled from Thailand and Berlin. 


I didn’t feel too nervous until I went in a shower – then it hit me! When we were all ready to walk down the aisle, everyone felt a bit nervous. As soon as the music kicked in, it was the best feeling thinking ‘this is it!’ My mum’s sister, my auntie Laney, walked me down the aisle. 


Our humanist ceremony was great. Our celebrant Niki Smith was amazing. We didn’t bother with any rituals so we could focus on our story as a couple. It was full of fun and felt really ‘us’. It was emotional too though, as Stephen’s mum had passed away just three weeks before our big day.  


Stephen had his mum’s ashes with him, and had her picture set up beside his bed the night before the wedding. I knew how he was feeling, and when I saw it there next to his bed my heart broke for him – I will always remember it. Both my parents have passed away too, so it was hard not having them there, but we got each other through it.


I had always wanted my parents’ wedding rings melted down to make my wedding ring. The I Do Studio in Uddingston worked magic. It only cost around £200 to have it done, but it’s worth so much more than that to me.

We both wore matching dinner suits that were made to order from Slater Menswear. We went for double-breasted jackets so our ensembles were different from our groomsmen and the other guests. I changed into a white suit jacket at night, also from Slater Menswear. 


Our speeches were great. Stephen’s sister went first with a hilarious X-rated speech, then me and my sister spoke. 
We didn’t set a budget, but we spent totally over what we thought it might be!

We had a lot of amazing entertainment though: Capella String Quartet and The Pickled Piper during the ceremony; the unreal GeO Gospel Choir for our drinks reception (also with open bar); a saxophone performance by Crookysax; Glasgow Piano Man at the end of the drinks reception and through our wedding meal; the 12-piece Soul Establishment from 8:30pm; and slots from DJs Jonny Ruiz from Tartan Entertainment and The Kilted DJ.
Our first dance was to ‘To Love Somebody’ by Michael Bolton.

The only slight thing I’d change about our wedding would be to spend more time on the dancefloor enjoying the tunes rather than talking to everyone!"

Top tip: “Don’t forget what getting married is all about. Make sure you’re both happy with your plans, don’t involve others in selecting suppliers and keep your thoughts just between the two of you. People don’t realise that their opinions on your wedding can affect you without even knowing it,” says Adam.

Venue Carlowrie Castle
Photography Ryan Mimiec Photography
Filmmaker Rizzo Films (see highlights above)
Celebrant Niki Smith Celebrant 
Groomswear Made to order from Slater Menswear, worn with Dior shoes and Oliver Brown bow ties
Bridesmaid dresses Dessy   
Hair AJW Hairdressing (the groom’s salon) 
Makeup Louise Coffey Dyet 
Flowers and venue decor Jordana Events and Weddings  
Cake Kayleigh’s Crumbs 
Stationery and personalised candle favours Wedding Artwork by Daria 
Wedding rings The I Do Studio 
Ceremony music Capella String Quartet and The Pickled Piper  
Drinks reception music GeO Gospel Choir and Glasgow Piano Man 
Reception music The Soul Establishment Function Band and Tartan Entertainment  
Saxophonist Chris Cruickshank, aka Crookysax  
DJ The Kilted DJ 
Content creators Your Day Unplugged (see reel below) and Cine Socials 
Transport Parks of Hamilton 
Dog chaperone Chloe’s K9 Kingdom

a close up of a burgundy envelope with gold wax seal and gold foil castle imprint with gold wedding rings sitting on it on the left. A dark red wedding welcome sign with gold and black script font sitting on a white easel on the right
Left image shows a smiling groom wearing a black suit, bow tie and large white rose buttonhole standing against a white door. Right image shows three men wearing smart black suits and bow ties standing at the bottom of a set of stairs. The middle man is holding a schnauzer dog on a lead. The dog is wearing a bow tie with white collar
groom wearing a black suit and bow tie dabbing a tear away as other guests stand looking on
two grooms stand at the top of a white aisle during their wedding ceremony in the conservatory at Carlowrie Castle. There is a large green and white floral rectangular arch behind them, green trees in white pots either side of the aisle and lots of green and white floral arrangements on the floor. Wedding guests are seated either side of the aisle and an officiant stands at the left hand side holding an open binder
a groom wearing a smart black suit and bow tie smiles and holds hands with another groom during their wedding ceremony as seated wedding guests in the background look on
two grooms hold hands and kiss as rows of seated wedding guests either side applaud and smile. There are trees either side of the white aisle and white and green floral arrangements on the floor. There's a large green floral arrangement and two chandeliers hanging from the ceiling
nine bridesmaids wearing burgundy dresses pose seated as two grooms wearing smart black suits and bow ties stand behind them. The exterior of Carlowrie Castle is in the background

(Photo: Ryan Mimiec Photography)

a wedding portrait of two grooms, nine bridesmaids and five men wearing suits on the stone stairs outside Carlowrie Castle
two smiling grooms stand nose to nose in a doorway at Carlowrie Castle
two grooms wearing smart black suits and bow tie embrace. There are tall hedges with russet leaves in the background and gravel on the ground
Left image shows two smiling grooms holding hands in a black and gold doorway at Carlowrie Castle. Right image shows two grooms standing on a white carpeted aisle surrounded by abundant green and white floral arrangements and trees in pots. A schnauzer dog on a lead sits on the floor
two grooms walking along a gravel path in the gardens at Carlowrie Castle with a schnauzer dog on a lead. There is a building in the background
two grooms walk down a set of stone steps outside Carlowrie Castle. One holds an umbrella
people seated at a long table laughing
two grooms raise champagne flutes against a green and white foliage background
two grooms cutting a black and white square tier wedding cake below a canvas ceiling that's covered in fairy lights. Guests look on and take pictures
two grooms dancing on a gold mirrored dance floor as gathered guests stand on the side clapping. There is a wedding band on the stage behind them
two grooms raise held hands in air outside Carlowrie Castle at night as pyrotechnic flares light up either side of them

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Carlowrie Castle Ryan Mimiec Photography LGBTQ+ wedding Humanist ceremony Castle wedding Slater Menswear Jordana Events

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