Mags and Rob’s Real Life Wedding

 

Mags and Rob

24/09/2005 – Harvest Garden,Morningside Road, Edinburgh

     
   

How and when did you meet?

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.

How old are you both?

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.

Where, when and how did he (or you!) propose?

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!

Did you have hen and stag celebrations?

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.

Did your groom help you with the wedding planning?

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!

Did you use confetti to plan your wedding? If so, how did the website help you?

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.

Did you buy any confetti products for your wedding? If so, did you visit a store, buy online or by mail order?

No.

Tell us about your outfit, and where you bought it.

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!

Did you have bridesmaids? If so, who did you choose and what did they wear?

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.

Who did your groom choose for his best man and ushers, and what did they wear?

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.

Did you have a civil or religious ceremony?

Religious.

Where did you hold your ceremony?

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!

Where did you hold your reception?

Norton House Hotel, Ingliston, Edinburgh.

Did you have any special wedding transport?

Yes, Rob and I had a Silver Cloud – it was fab!

How many guests did you invite to your wedding, and did you have a separate evening guest list?

We had 110 during the day and another 30 or so in the evening.

Did your reception have a particular theme in terms of colour or style?

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.

How did you incorporate this in to your table settings?

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.

Did you give your guests favours?

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!

Describe your flowers (bouquets and table decorations). Who was your florist?

Harvest Garden on Morningside Road in Edinburgh. There were plum cala lilies, pale pink roses and thistles.

What did you choose to have on your menu? Did you have an outside caterer or did your venue handle the catering?

The meal was part of the package at the Norton; we chose prawn marie rose, rib eye of beef and raspberry cranachan.

What did you choose for your wedding cake?

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!

Did you have any entertainment during the day or evening?

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!

Did you have a gift list? If so, who did you have your list with?

Yes, with Debenhams and John Lewis.

Where did you spend your first night and honeymoon? Who did you book your honeymoon with?

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.

What was your most memorable moment of the day?

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!.

Did you experience any ‘nightmare’ moments in the run up to your wedding or on the day?

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!

Is there anything you would do differently, or any advice you would give to other brides?

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.