Jennifer and Andrew’s Real Life Wedding
Jennifer and Andrew
07/05/2005 – Culcreuch Castle, Fintry, Stirlingshire
How and when did you meet?
We met on 1st April 1998 in the Garage nightclub in Glasgow.
Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?
Andrew proposed on Sunday 7th September 2003 on the banks of Lake Louise in Canada.
Did you have hen and stag celebrations?
For my hen do, I went to Center Parcs for a relaxing weekend with a few friends and my future sisers-in-law (Andrew’s sister and my brother’s fiancee). Andrew went to Bristol with a few friends where they went go-karting and to watch some football before going out for a meal and some drinks.
Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?
Andrew picked the kilts for hire and helped decide on some of the flowers for the venue. He helped select the menu, set up the template for the invites and gave opinions when requested!
Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?
We used the guest list a lot – it was useful for getting peoples addresses and phone numbers when we weren’t at home! Also used the budget and table planners.
Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?
We bought lots of personalised bits, metallic confetti, ribbon and gifts for our ushers, online and from the London store.
Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it.
My dress was Pronovias Tapiz, from Anne Priscilla Bridal in Glasgow. I also got my veil from there – it was cathedral length with lots of little sparkly bits on it. I wore some shoes that I’d had since my graduation ball as they were comfy and went really well, and I bought my tiara at the National Wedding Show.
Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?
My bridesmaid was my little cousin, Eleanor. She was so excited and very enthusiastic! She wore a lovely lilac dress with a matching stole and a small pink tiara.
Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?
Andrew asked his old flat mate, Fraser, to be his best man. He did a fabulous job. The uhers were a couple of Andrew’s friends, Dawson and Michael, my brother Neil and my little cousins Stewart and James. The boys all wore kilts in Hunting Stewart tartan (except for Stewart ironically as the shop sent the wrong size!). Andrew and the best man wore Argyll jackets with ties and high waistcoats. The ushers had Argyll jackets with bow-ties, except James as they only do Bonnie Price Charlie jackets in children sizes.
Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?
We had a Church of Scotland ceremony performed by Rev Mary Haddow who used to be Andrew’s next door neighbour!
Where did you hold your ceremony?
The ceremony was held at Culcreuch Castle in Fintry, Stirlingshire.
Where did you hold your reception?
The reception was at the same venue as the ceremony.
Did you have any special wedding transport?
My dad, Eleanor and I went from my parents house to the castle in a Daimler Limo, which took Andrew and I for a short drive later.
How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?
We had a total of 81 for the day and an extra 50 or so in the evening.
Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?
Not really – the flowers matched my bouquet but that was as co-ordinated as we got!
Did you give your guests favours?
For our day guests we had tealight holders with their names on them as place settings (pink candles for girls and blue for boys). I tied a piece of personalised ribbon around each one. During the evening Andrew’s sister and my brother’s fiancee gave out sachet bags with sugared almonds or chocolate dragees for the girls and chocolate balls for the boys.
Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?
I had a hand-tied bouquet with white freesia, white alstromeria and pink lisianthius. The table decorations matched and we also had some wall hangings with ivy.
What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?
Our venue did the catering. For starter we had the house pate with oatcakes. The main course was a choice of lamb or salmon, and we had a chocolate and hazelnut roulade for pudding. During the evening we had bacon rolls.
What did you choose for your wedding cake?
We had a three-tiered cake – two of fruit and one sponge. Sugar paste figures of me, Andrew and Eleanor decorated it. I also got them to put on a little Aberdeen scarf for Andrew!
Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?
We had a ceildh in the evening.
Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?
Our gift list was with John Lewis.
Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?
We stayed at the venue on the night of the wedding. The next night we spent at Lodge on the Loch and on the Monday we stayed at the airport before we flew out on honeymoon to New York, Hawaii and Las Vegas.
What was your most memorable moment of the day?
Apart from when I fell over during Auld Lang Sang (I stood on my dress) I think the most memorable moment was seeing the smile on Andrew’s face when I walked in.
Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?
I wouldn’t change a thing.
My advice would be to relax – everything will go fine – and enjoy your day!
