With summer on its way we find out about Sheelagh and Gavin’s outdoor wedding in Edinburgh’s City Centre.

Where did your story all start?

Gavin proposed on Valentine’s Day and picked a beautiful ring.

Where did you decide to tie the knot?

We chose the botanical gardens in Edinburgh, as we really wanted to get married outside. We then headed back to The Carlton Hotel in Edinburgh city centre for our reception. It was a good location for all our travelling guests and we all got to stay in a central location together.

Who did you have in your wedding party?

My sister Clodagh and two of my closest friends. Gavin had his brother and close friends with best friend Joe as the best man.

Tell us a bit about your outdoor ceremony?

We got married outside under the trees so it was perfect for having two pipers play. Very moving music. We loved how our ceremony was personal to us as a couple and our love and story together. We loved the symbolism of the hand fasting and bringing together two different family tartans. It’s a lovely thing to have as a keepsake. We liked being able to say our own vows to each other and express what we meant to each other. A humanist ceremony gave us the freedom to have our dream wedding. We’re not religious and we wanted the focus to be on our love for each other in words we could understand and were meaningful to us.

What made your wedding unique?

The ceremony was definitely unique and so personal. Our theme for the afters also evolved around how we met and all the places we’d traveled to together. We also did a dance routine for our first dance. We had gotten a few lessons! We figured why not have some fun, we’re going to be doing a first dance anyway so we may as well do something fun! It was a lovely thing to do together we had such a laugh and so did our guests!!

What one piece of advice would you give to others planning their wedding?

On the day just go with the flow you’ve planned as much as your going to now so whatever happens happens. Don’t let stress ruin your big day. Enjoy it! Take a breath. Your paying a lot of cash and you only have one wedding day so make sure you have fun too!

Sum up your wedding in 100 words (…or a little more if you need it!)

Both Gavin and I had a brilliant wedding day. We both enjoyed it and all the celebrating around it. It was such a special day with all our friends and family around us. Our guests came from Scotland, Ireland and even Australia to be with us. We were lucky with a very hot sunny day and the botanical gardens was magical for the ceremony. A dream come true. I wouldn’t change anything and I’d love to do the exact same day getting married to Gavin all over again!

Who’s, who? Tell us which wedding suppliers you used!

My bridesmaids made the cake.

Northern Star from Edinburgh were the band.

Quite contrary did beautiful flowers.

Jilly mills from Haddington did our Make up.

Hair by Cricles bridal Hair.

Morag, Humanist Celebrant from Fuze ceremonies.

Edinburgh coach lines for the bus hire.

Avant Guarde for our wedding cars.

Hector Russell for kilt hire.

The wedding dress was bought in Adare aibheil in Ireland.

Bridesmaid dress were bought in Kildare Ireland but are a Dessy Dress.

he wedding dress was Pronovais. Photographers Ryan and Herculine White.

We had a friend do a video. He did an excellent job.