Where did your story all start?
My husband and I started seeing each other on the 10th of May 2013 We met at Coatbridge College while we were studying Performing Arts and we began chatting regularly, first on Facebook and then over text message. One thing led to another and, after a whirlwind three years together in which we got engaged, bought a house and have a cat, here we are.
Where did you decide to tie the knot?
The Torrance Hotel in East Kilbride.
Who did you have in your wedding party?
Andrew had his brother Daniel and best friend Billy as best men and his friend Donna as a groom’s woman. My brother Alistair gave me away and my two bridesmaids were Diane, who was also my maid of honour, and Leighann. We also had Eira who was a flower girl and Eli as the ring bearer.
Who conducted your ceremony?
Gillian Phillips from Fuze Ceremonies; she was wonderful and we highly recommend her!
Tell us a bit about your ceremony?
Andrew performed a reading during the ceremony, which I was not aware of, before Gillian gave a brief history of how we both met and the night we got engaged. Before the wedding Gillian asked us both for three reasons why we each loved one another and she revealed the answers to us; once again we had no idea what the other wrote. We then had the hand fasting and exchanged personal vows before the giving of the rings. We said our legal vows and sealed our marriage with a kiss before signing the marriage schedule. Afterwards we drank from the Quaich and Gillian recited a traditional Scottish poem to us before we were piped back up the aisle.
Did you use any symbolic gestures?
We asked Andrew’s mum and dad and my aunt and brother for their blessing, had the hand fasting ceremony and drank from the Quaich to toast my mum and dad as sadly they both passed away.
Who’s who? Tell us which wedding suppliers you used!
We used AC FotoWorx for our wedding photographs; my cousin and aunty made our wedding cake and Andrew’s Uncle filmed the ceremony, speeches and part of the reception. We used Buds and Blooms for our flowers and buttonholes; David Stark was our piper and I used Envious Bridal for my wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses. We used Village Wedding Cars for the bridal car and Forever Bridal for the kilts.
What made your wedding unique?
We got married on the 10th of May 2016, exactly three years from when we got together. Our wedding rings were both melted down from old family rings, mine was my mother’s and Andrew’s was his Granddad’s, and made into two new rings so we would always have our families close to us. We also gave gifts to my brother and aunty as well as Andrew’s mum and dad during the ceremony rather than at the meals to co-inside with them giving us their blessing to be married. Instead of having a traditional bride and groom cake topper we had two penguins; these are our nicknames for each other because when penguins fall in love they mate for life.
What one piece of advice would you give to others planning a wedding?
The bride and groom should both be involved in the planning of their wedding. As much as we try to say otherwise the wedding is not just about the bride. I was glad Andrew wanted to be involved with the wedding as it felt like we were in it together rather than him being another onlooker. If you both have an equal say in the wedding it makes it all the more meaningful.
Sum up your wedding in 100 words (…or a little more if you need it)
Our wedding day was the happiest day of our lives; everything went perfectly and the weather was beautiful… which is rare in Scotland! The entire day went by so quickly and sometimes it’s hard to believe it’s been and gone after all the planning and preparation we put in. It’s very rare we have all of our family and close friends gathered together so to celebrate our marriage with them was amazing. We can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness and generosity and I know we will be as happy throughout our marriage as we were on our wedding day.
A massive thank you and congratulations to Andrew and Alison for sharing the details of their big day with us.
If you want to share your big day with u feel free to get in touch.
