Nicola and Calum wanted to give their guests an unforgettable experience at their Fife wedding, but the day kicked off with some lovely surprises for them first…
Nicola Bett and Calum Beveridge, now Mr and Mrs Beveridge
6th July 2024
Venue | Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, St Andrews
Photography | Paul Govers Photography
On the morning of their wedding, Nicola Bett gave husband-to-be Calum a special present: a limited-edition Omega watch and a video message she’d arranged from Kris Boyd, his favourite footballer. Bride done good, I think we’d all agree.
But then things took an unexpected turn… “I was about to get my eye makeup done when Jordan Anderson, the Old Course Hotel’s superstar wedding coordinator, appeared holding a Chanel shopper,” says Nicola. “Inside was a gift from Calum: my dream designer bag! He also gave me a bracelet and earrings that he’d designed himself. I was blown away.
“The entire morning getting ready with my girls was an absolute dream.”
Such thoughtful presents will always be a sweet reminder of this special occasion, but according to the new Mrs Beveridge (who met Calum after being set up by a mutual friend in 2021), it was the vendors who went the extra mile for them who really made it a day to remember.
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“I can’t even find words to convey how outstanding our photographer Paul Govers is. He has such an infectious, warm character. Just one example of where he went above and beyond for us: he lost his voice after MCing our photo dash!” (As a saxophonist played, each table had to ‘dash’ to a spot on the dancefloor to pose with the newlyweds. “It means we have a fun picture with every single guest,” the bride explains.)
Filmmaker Olive & Thistle and content creator Maximising Media are also singled out for praise. “Calum thought I’d lost my marbles booking someone to do Instagram and TikTok,” she laughs. “But both suppliers blended in and got incredible footage.” And of course, there’s the venue...
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“Months before we got engaged, I mentioned to Calum in passing that I’d seen videos of the Old Course Hotel online and thought it looked amazing. Unbeknownst to me, he’d already organised a show-round for the weekend after we got engaged. From the moment we stepped into the venue, I knew it was the one.
“All the staff make you feel so special, and when we met our coordinator Jordan, we knew we were in safe hands. We built such a rapport with her that we invited her along as an evening guest and now consider her a friend,” smiles Nicola. “She even arranged a wheelchair for me when she thought my feet were sore in my Jimmy Choos!”
The St Andrews resort has a well-earned reputation for its food and the couple’s menu-tasting was phenomenal – just as it was on the day itself. “The meal was one of the most important elements for Calum,” explains Nicola. “He wanted us to have a completely personalised menu. We offered a choice for each course so we could be certain that everyone would have something they’d enjoy.”
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The couple were also determined to ensure that their 100 guests felt entertained and included at every point in the day, so went to great lengths to personalise proceedings. “We have both been at weddings that have felt a bit ‘copy and paste’. We didn’t want ours to drag on; we wanted it to represent us and be fun,” says the bride.
“For instance, one of our ceremony readings was created from the RSVPs to our invitations where we’d asked guests to tell us what love means to them. They didn’t know the context their replies would be used in – some of them ended up being hilarious,” laughs Nicola.
Instead of favours, guests received a postcard featuring a picture from the pair’s engagement shoot by Paul Govers. “On the back was a personal thank-you to each one for attending and a memory that we cherish with them.”
The 20 friends who joined them in the evening weren’t overlooked either. “We decided to cut the cake before the end of our meal and then offered everyone cake and a cocktail when they arrived – we do love a cocktail! We had pyrotechnics on the dancefloor for our first dance, then, after the buffet, we did a sparkler tunnel and surprised everyone with a fireworks display.”
One guest, however, didn’t make it much past the ceremony and posing for some photos: Harry, the couple’s dog.
“The hotel is dog-friendly, so we got Cooper’s Canines to chaperone our spaniel Harry, so it wasn’t too much for him," recalls Nicola.
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The VIPooch certainly turned heads in his bow-tie, but it was Nicola’s look, naturally, that drew the most compliments. “I was initially drawn to an ethereal lacy dress, but ultimately I chose a more classic style by Enzoani. The team at Opus Couture helped me redesign bits I didn’t feel were quite right.
“People said it wasn’t what they thought I’d wear, which I absolutely loved. It was timeless, elegant and classic – just like the rest of our wedding. “Having said that, after I extended our flower budget three times, there was a moment where I thought we might get divorced before we even got married!” she says with a wink.
Wedding planning top tip
Top top: “Calum and I had a meeting every week/fortnight to check we didn’t have any outstanding invoices or information requests from our suppliers. We also had a shared spreadsheet for keeping track of spending and RSVPs. Honestly, it was so helpful to set up a system at the start of the process to track all the information and keep it in one place,” says Nicola.
The couple's highlights film by Olive & Thistle
Venue Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
Photography Paul Govers Photography
Filmmaker Olive & Thistle (see highlights above)
Celebrant Gary Smith, Humanist Society Scotland
Wedding dress Enzoani from Opus Couture
Bride’s shoes Jimmy Choo
Bridesmaid dresses Sophia Grace Couture
Makeup Samantha Connor Makeup
Hair Stacey Deane Bridal Hair
Groomswear MacGregor and MacDuff
Engagement and wedding rings ROX
Groom’s watch and bride’s bracelet and earrings Chisholm Hunter
Cake Julie Scrumptious
Flowers and decor JAM Events
Additional venue decor Grande Dreams
Stationery Bewilderly
Favours Personalised postcards
Ceremony and drinks reception music David Laing and Capella String Quartet
Saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski
Reception band The Riffreshers
Fireworks and pyrotechnics 21CC Group
Content creation Maximising Media
Dog chaperone Cooper’s Canines
