A creative non-traditional Glasgow wedding at Barras Art and Design, blending Scottish and Vietnamese influences with a relaxed, social format and standout personal touches
Planning a Glasgow wedding at Barras Art and Design (BAaD) offers couples a flexible, characterful venue in the city’s east end – ideal for non-traditional celebrations.
Jackie and Robin Le MacLennan’s August wedding combined industrial wedding styling, a Vietnamese tea ceremony, ceilidh band entertainment and relaxed dining, creating a day that prioritised atmosphere, culture and guest experience.
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Wedding highlights at a glance
Wedding venue | Barras Art and Design (BAaD), Glasgow
Date | 29th August 2025
Photography | SimonsStudio
Guests | 100
Decor | Industrial styling with colourful circus props and LED screen details
Ceremony | Humanist ceremony with Vietnamese tea ceremony
Entertainment | Spotify playlists and JimJam Ceilidh Band
A Glasgow wedding at Barras Art and Design
Even with 365 days to choose from, setting a date proved complicated. “We had spreadsheets and group chats and there were some strong opinions from many family members, but we finally chose one – and they all managed to come,” says Jackie.
Based in London, the couple chose Glasgow for practical and personal reasons. “Partly because it’s close to Robin’s parents and family – and partly to weed out the unfaithfuls,” laughs Jackie. “If people were willing to travel to Glasgow for us, we knew it was real.”
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After viewing a range of options, a recommendation led them to Barras Art and Design, a popular Glasgow wedding venue known for its industrial aesthetic.
“It’s an incredible space, full of industrial character, and was the perfect backdrop for our celebration,” says Jackie.
“The weddings manager there, Jess Thompson, was nothing short of phenomenal. Every detail was executed with calm, professional excellence. She kept everything running smoothly.”
Planning a relaxed, non-traditional wedding
Jackie led most of the planning in the run-up to the wedding. “There were occasional stress explosions over Robin’s extremely relaxed and sometimes non-existent approach to time management,” she laughs.
“Jackie’s micromanagement occasionally reached insane levels,” adds Robin. “For both of us, these moments were soothed by bun bò huế, pastries and chocolate.”
By the wedding day, roles shifted. “I made sure everything ran according to the schedule Jackie had arranged,” says Robin. “I organised the logistics before and after, and generally kept the whole show on track.”
One key change was swapping a traditional cake cutting for a Vietnamese tea ceremony. “I’ll admit it worked even better,” says Jackie.
“It felt very us: a little spontaneous, a little chaotic, but completely reflective of our personalities.”
The couple also opted against a formal meal. “We’ve attended too many weddings where we’ve sat at tables full of strangers, so we decided it would be far more fun for our 100 guests to mingle over canapés and then help themselves to a couple of buffets. We also served pizza at 10pm,” says Robin.
Personal touches and cultural details
Jackie, a circus performer, incorporated her background into the styling. “Most of my props and costumes had been living idly in the closet, so I lovingly brought them back to life. They added colour, fun and personality to the day.”
Their dog Jasper couldn’t attend, but still featured. His face appeared on napkins and on the venue’s LED screen.
Honouring their backgrounds was central to the day. Robin wore Highland dress from McCalls Highlandwear and included a ceilidh band, while Jackie sourced her outfits in Vietnam.
“As someone who performs on stage in costumes usually covered in rhinestones, I knew I wanted the complete opposite for my wedding dress: plain, sophisticated and timeless,” she says.
Jackie wore a white gown for the ceremony and changed into a red Áo dài for the tea ceremony. “I decided to wear a modern version of the red Áo dài. I also wore the traditional Vietnamese khan dong wedding headpiece.”
Ceremony moments and evening celebrations
Celebrant Lindy Irving led a short, personal ceremony. “No long sermons, no dramatic pauses, just a celebration of our story, told properly and efficiently,” says Robin.
Not everything went perfectly — and that’s what made it memorable. “Poor Robin’s mouth was dry when we were exchanging vows, so he stepped away to get a sip of water, then slipped on his way back,” says Jackie. “Cue tears of laughter from me.”
Ceremony planning advice: what you need to know
A close friend, Lj Marles, acted as MC. “He was phenomenal,” says Jackie.
“The only thing we’d change would be the length of the speeches… everyone talked nearly 15 minutes, despite being asked to keep them under five.”
Wedding planning advice
“Expect arguments – it’s part of the process,” say the couple. “Focus on what truly matters: the people, good music, plenty of food and drink, the atmosphere, and the moments you’ll actually want to be remembered.”
Wedding suppliers
Venue, food and drink Barras Art and Design, Glasgow
Photography SimonsStudio
Videography Rob Miller and Arielle Lauzon
Celebrant Lindy Irving, Aye Do Ceremonies
Bride’s dresses Hacchic Couture; Thuy Design House, Vietnam
Jewellery & bridesmaid dresses Lalin, Vietnam
Hair and makeup Tali Esme Artistry; Esther Snelling
Groomswear McCalls Highlandwear
Rings Australian Opal Cutters; Etsy
Cake Akara Bakery
Favours Tartan Treats by Joanne
Music Spotify playlists; JimJam Ceilidh Band
MC Lj Marles (friend)
