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We met in 1999, when we were both working at Triple Kirks (a pub) in Aberdeen as students. We worked there for six months together before we got together, which took us a while, but eventually it became official in October 1999. We had been together almost six years by the time we got married.
Rob and I went to Skye for a holiday in August 2004. For some reason I decided that I should propose to him because it was a leap year. I was planning to wait until we climbed our first munro together - until I saw the size of the Cullins! We were fishing at Neist Point on the Wednesday and it was a gorgeous day, so I just came out and asked him. It’s quite difficult to do if you are a girl - you can't present him with a big sparkly ring. Anyway he said no, because he thought I was joking, but then I started to cry and he said yes. Not exactly the most romantic story - but there you go! He did buy me a ring the day we returned home.
He proposed on Christmas Eve. We went out for a meal and a few drinks in London and he had the ring tucked in his pocket all night. It was funny as he kept checking his pocket to make sure the ring was still there, but he didn't have enough courage to get down on one knee in public, so he waited until we got home. It was so obvious he was going to pop the question and I had such fun watching him squirm! I couldn't stop crying after he asked me!
We both went away on the same weekend. Rob went down to Edinburgh for an event that seemed to involve getting drunk and going to strip clubs as far as I can gather, while I went to Fort Augustus with my mates (apparently the first one they’d had for 3 years). We hired out two chalets, and played silly games outside (like rounders and Trivial Pursuit) then went to the local Indian restaurant/pub/karaoke establishment, all dressed up as Thelma and Louise. It was very amusing. I just wanted to be somewhere with my mates, and the weekend cost about 70 pounds per guest, so it wasn't too expensive.
We went to Edinburgh on a number of occasions and he usually came down when I did and we made joint decisions. Sometimes he lost all interest especially when it involved bridesmaid’s shoes and flowers!
I used it mainly for ideas, and to read about other people's weddings. I also looked on it when I had specific problems or couldn't find things I was looking for elsewhere.
No.
My mum made my dress and it was lovely! I had always thought about wearing lace, and when I tried a lace dress on in the shop, I found it to be very slimming. It was quite plain and not too fussy or ‘meringuey.’ I have quite a curvy figure, so that was quite surprising. We went to a few dress shops to try on designs that suited me, and then had a look at patterns. We ended up combining two patterns. Luckily for me, mum listened to all my worries about it, and is a good dress maker and had some of her own suggestions. It made the dress all the better and more special, and only cost about 100 pounds!
I had two bridesmaids: My best mate Karen, and Rob's sister Gillian, who were very enthusiastic and supportive and listened to a whole lot of dilemmas through the 13 month engagement. Rob's mum made the dresses, which were quite '2005' as they were strapless, plum coloured A-line dresses with a pale pink belt and went just over the knee.
The groom was Rob's best mate Matty, a Geordie who had never worn a kilt before, and who is very skinny! The other ushers were my brother and another of Rob's friends, Neale. Rob, his best man and ushers all wore kilts (but not the same tartan!) and looked very smart.
Religious.
St Cuthbert's Episcopal Church, Colinton, Edinburgh. Where I went as a wee girl, I was Christened and confirmed there and mum and dad got married in the same church, so it was special for me. On top of that it’s a really pretty venue!
Norton House Hotel, Ingliston, Edinburgh.
Yes, Rob and I had a Silver Cloud - it was fab!
We had 110 during the day and another 30 or so in the evening.
The theme was mainly matched to the colours of the bridesmaids’ dresses in plum and pink.
We got pink/purple/plum flowers for the tables - we got them from five pounds from Marks and Spencers and they were really helpful.
We had place names that matched the invitations, and we bought tea lights and coloured glass beads from Ikea. The tables looked nice but didn't cost much.
Yes, we made them ourselves and had almonds in very pretty netting with a plum trim, made by myself, my mother-in-law and some of my friends a couple of weeks before the wedding - another fun evening!
Harvest Garden on Morningside Road in Edinburgh. There were plum cala lilies, pale pink roses and thistles.
The meal was part of the package at the Norton; we chose prawn marie rose, rib eye of beef and raspberry cranachan.
My mum's friend, who has made lots of cakes. It was three-tiers with round glass orbs filled with sugar cala lilies between - it looked ace!
We had a ceilidh band/disco there. Rob is half Lebonese so his Mum's side of the family had never encountered ceilidh music but everyone enjoyed it!
Yes, with Debenhams and John Lewis.
In the hotel we got married in, for our first and second night. We wanted to see some of Rob's relatives the day after as he sees them so rarely. Then we went to Italy for two weeks, which we booked through STA, though it wasn't a package as such. We went to Venice, Cinque Terre, Florence, Sienna and Rome.
Walking up the aisle. I got so worried before the wedding. I was feeling sick before it, and wasn't looking forward to it. Then I knew Rob was there and I realised that was the most important thing. I knew I would have a wonderful day whatever happened - we were getting married and having a big party with all our family and friends and if anything went wrong it was out of my control and we would laugh about it!.
Yes! We had a bit of an issue with bridesmaids’ shoes, but they ended up both loving the ones they got. Rob's uncle made the invitations that Rob's sister had designed. They were fantastic but arrived less than 2 weeks before we sent them out, without envelopes - which we had difficulty tracking down. Also ones of the bridesmaids’ dresses didn't fit (it wouldn't do up) a week before the wedding! My mum had to go up to Inverness from Edinburgh to fix it!
Basically most of the planning was all quite advanced, and I would recommend that you do as much as soon as you can - it makes you feel less worried. And remember at the end of the day you will have an ace time and fantastic memories – it’s worth all the hassle.
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