The April-May issue of Tie the Knot Scotland is out now and you can read it online for free

Spring forward with your wedding planning – the brand-new April-May issue is out now (and you can read it here for free), featuring gorgeous venues by the water, stunning real brides’ wedding fashion, a sparkling jewellery special and much more… 

Is it just us, or has winter seemed to last longer this time around? As the nights finally get brighter, we’re relishing the thought that in the not-too-distant future, we’ll be able to go for evening walks on the beach – yay!  

If you adore being near the ocean and you’ve still to find your wedding venue, you’ll want to check out our list of sea-, loch- and riverside Scottish settings. However, if you’re more landlubber than water baby, the new issue also features a line-up of some of the best hotel function suites in the country.  

Exterior of Dougarie Boathouse on the Isle of Arran
Dougarie Boathouse on the Isle of Arran is one of the venues highlighted in our waterside venues feature (Photo: Susie Olzen)

No matter where you choose to marry, you’re going to need something new to wear. In our bridal fashion section, we give boutiques a location, budget and brief and ask them to suggest a dress to suit. We also chat to a dozen real brides about the practicalities of their dreamy wedding looks – expect outfit changes, post-partum two-pieces and trouser suits…  

Brides wearing Nadine Merabi trouser suit and Enzoani dress from La Novia
Recent newlyweds Anja (left, wearing Nadine Merabi) and Kayley (right, wearing Enzoani from La Novia in Edinburgh) are in our real brides fashion (Photos: Danielle C Stewart and Stacey Clarke Photo)

We cover mother of the bride/groom style every issue – and do so again this issue – but we thought it was high time we showed the dads some love too, so grooms’ outfitters offer advice on shopping for fathers.  

Jewellery is perhaps the ultimate lasting reminder of a wedding. We capture sparkling heirlooms-in-the-making at the stunning Virgin Hotels Edinburgh and talk to jewellers about the process of having rings designed especially for you. Among their favourite recent commissions are a ring with an amazing colour-changing teal sapphire and another that’s the combination of two grandparents’ wedding bands (aw!).  

Bride in Oculus atrium at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
The stunning new Virgin Hotels Edinburgh was the backdrop to our bridal jewellery photoshoot (Photo: Hamish Campbell)

Your photographs will be with you a long time too, so Scottish snappers share the wacky tips and tricks they use to get the best shots, including naughty whispers, skipping and ‘kissing with teeth’ – we kid you not!  

Pick up the April-May issue at larger supermarkets, WHSmith and selected independent retailers, read it here for free or treat yourself to a subscription, priced from £12 for three issues

a bride and groom in Kibble Palace and a group of men and boys pose on a step wearing MacGregor and MacDuff kilts
Left: Holly at For Love + Thistle Photography‘s top tip for getting couples to relax? “Asking them to whisper what they had for breakfast in their sexiest voices!” That’s what’s going on here with Louisa and Jamie; Right: Six fine examples of the Glen Orchy Tweed kilt outfit from MacGregor and MacDuff that feature in our article on dressing the dads (Photo: Whitney Graham Photography)