Two brides’ colourful Glasgow wedding at The Engine Works

Two brides, two iconic Glasgow venues and one unforgettable celebration. Hannah and Emily’s wedding mixed meaningful tradition with colourful DIY touches, music inspiration and joyful personal details

Two brides standing by a sunlit industrial window at the Engine Works, smiling at each other with a bright, colourful bouquet.

Glasgow brides Hannah and Emily created a vibrant, personal LGBTQ+ wedding across two iconic venues: the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel and The Engine Works.

Their 330-guest celebration blended meaningful faith elements, DIY décor, Paramore-inspired moments and colourful details that showcased their personalities, pets and love story.

Two brides walking hand in hand down the centre aisle of the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel as guests applaud, with stained-glass windows and wooden pews surrounding them.

Wedding highlights at a glance

Wedding venue | University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel and The Engine Works, Glasgow
Date | 12th October 2024
Photography | Sidey Clark Photography and Birches and Pine
Guests | 330
Decor | DIY details, ceiling streamers, personalised signage, pet-themed touches
Ceremony | Religious service with Episcopalian priest
Entertainment | Paramore-inspired string quartet, prosecco tower, glitter bar, photobooth, Baby Guinness bar, food trucks, Anti-Wedding Wedding DJs

Two-tier retro-style wedding cake decorated with pink, blue and green piped icing and miniature silver disco balls, displayed on a wooden whisky barrel against an exposed brick wall.

Bright pink “Pick Your Seat” wedding seating chart board decorated with rows of clipped Polaroid-style photos, placed beside tall potted palms and scattered disco balls.

Long wooden wedding tables set with pastel plates, tapered candles and floral arrangements, with colourful pink, blue and silver streamers hanging overhead and a neon “The Foxes” sign in the background.

Fabric wedding banner displayed on a gold stand reading ‘Hannah & Emily’ with a Paramore lyric, styled as part of the Engine Works décor.

A colourful Glasgow wedding filled with personality and Paramore inspiration

Putting tradition aside worked perfectly for Hannah and Emily, who celebrated their wedding across two of Glasgow’s most atmospheric venues. “We’ve been together since 2013 and knew we’d get married once we had the money for it, so we started looking at venues before we were engaged,” says Hannah.

When they discovered The Engine Works had just one 2024 date left – 12th October – they booked a tour and “decided we should probably get engaged!”

Newlywed brides walking out of the Engine Works as guests shower them with colourful confetti during their vibrant wedding exit.

An unconventional engagement and organised planning

The couple chose their own rings and exchanged them at Falls of Clyde, before beginning an exceptionally organised planning journey. “Booking the big things first and letting everything else work around that was the best thing we did,” says Hannah. Their budgeting spreadsheet kept them on track and they spent around £30,000.

Their guest list was the biggest challenge. “Hannah comes from a very big Irish family,” Emily explains. The day guest list was refined to 160, growing to 330 for the reception: “We had to accept we couldn’t have absolutely everyone there all day.”

Couple during a ceremony inside the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, standing with the priest beneath arched stonework.

Wide view of the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel interior showing the couple standing with the priest at the altar beneath tall arched stonework and stained-glass panels.

Two brides standing side by side during their ceremony, holding matching illustrated orders of service featuring their names and wedding date.

Wedding ceremony at the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel

The couple always hoped for a religious-style ceremony. “We both grew up Catholic and wanted to emulate a church wedding,” says Hannah. The University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel, with its stained glass and wooden pews, provided the perfect setting.

Discover more about weddings at University of Glasgow

Finding an officiant proved harder. “Priests wouldn’t marry us, and many humanists weren’t up for including the religious elements.” By chance, Emily’s mum met Father Oliver Brewer-Lennon at Glasgow Pride.

“He knew exactly where we were coming from,” Emily says. As the chapel’s Episcopalian chaplain, he was a perfect fit and helped them craft a traditional yet personalised service.

Wide shot of the Engine Works reception space with pink, blue and metallic streamers hung from the ceiling and warm festoon lighting, with the brides entering the room.

DIY decor and a personal reception at The Engine Works

The Engine Works stood out for its size and flexibility. “Anything we could personalise, we did!” laughs Hannah. The brides and their families created interactive pop-up invitations, pennant-style save-the-dates, a Polaroid seating plan and macaron favours. Emily’s dad, a carpenter, crafted the table-plan frame.

Discover more Glasgow wedding venues

Their biggest DIY triumph? Forty metres of handmade ceiling streamers. “Our blood, sweat and tears went into them, but they had such an impact,” says Emily.

Their pets also featured heavily, inspiring signature cocktails and personalised napkins featuring their dachshunds and Siberian cats. Duchess Seerra handled on-the-day styling: “We highly recommend coordination for DIY venues – it takes away the stress and ensures your vision comes to life,” says Hannah.

Flatlay of Hannah and Emily’s wedding order of service and personalised dog-illustrated napkin surrounded by scattered confetti and champagne glasses.

A Paramore wedding idea

Hannah wore a “comfy and floaty” gown from Bijoux Bridal, while Emily stunned in a pink Mango suit with custom embroidery by Lucy Freeman. Photography was handled by London-based Glaswegian Sidey Clark, supported by Birches & Pine, delivering the “candid, fun and colourful” vibe the couple wanted.

Paramore – the band where they first met in 2012 – shaped the soundtrack. A string quartet played their songs for the ceremony, and their first dance was “Still Into You,” complete with bridesmaids releasing confetti at the exact gig-perfect moment.

From a prosecco tower and glitter bar to a Baby Guinness bar, photobooth and food trucks, the couple ensured guests were constantly entertained. Mark from Anti-Wedding DJs brought the party: “The dancefloor was never empty.”

Brides celebrating on the dancefloor under falling confetti as guests cheer and confetti cannons go off around them.

Highlight video by Heart Shaped Films

Wedding suppliers

Ceremony venue Memorial Chapel at University of Glasgow
Reception venue The Engine Works, Glasgow
Photography Sidey Clark and Birches & Pine
Filmmaker Heart Shaped Films (see highlights above)
Officiant Father Oliver Brewer-Lennon, Scottish Episcopal Church
Emily’s suit Mango, with custom embroidery by Lucy Freeman
Hannah’s dress and veil Bijoux Bridal
Dress alterations Yan at Amor Bridal Alterations
Bridesmaid dresses Coast
Flowergirl dresses Monsoon
Mothers’ outfits Phase Eight
Hair and makeup Nirvana Glasgow, Daniel from Dara Hair Salon, and Heather May Makeup
Hannah’s engagement ring Chisholm Hunter
Emily’s engagement ring Carrie Elizabeth
Wedding bands Tiffany & Co
Cake Sneakybeets and Chasing the Doughnut
Catering Regis Banqueting
Evening food trucks Wood Fired Pizza Truck and Yu-Ca-Taco
Flowers Every Bloomin Thing, Glasgow
Stationery DIY by brides and their sisters
Favours Homemade macarons and meringue kisses
Venue dressing on the day, styling and decor Duchess Seerra Vintage Prop Hire
Disco ball, festoon lights, tables and streamer hanging Make Believe Events
Welcome banner Tara Collette
Ceremony music University of Glasgow Chapel’s resident organist, Kevin
Reception DJ Anti-Wedding Wedding DJs
Transport Clan Classics
Dog chaperone Hounds & Heritage Weddings
Bridal party cookies Kolaczech, Glasgow
Bridal party welded bracelets Sky High
Photobooth Blushbooth
Glitter bar Give Good Face
Temporary tattoos Friends Eleanor and Mel Gracie Tattoo