A Watters Gown for a Walled Garden and Old Hollywood Glamour Inspired Wedding

Annabel knows that, despite not being from nor having ever lived across the Scottish border, I have a definite soft spot for Scottish weddings (I grew up in Northumberland – am I close enough?). So it’s always a delight when one lands in my inbox.  Today’s affair is effortlessly glamorous and full of love and it is an absolute pleasure to share it with you.

Meet Jennifer, MD and owner of The Wee House Company, and Mark, who works for the emergency services, who married on the 11th June 2016 in Portland Parish Church, followed by a reception at Hillhouse, Troon, Scotland.

“We chose the church because it was a really beautiful building and we got on really well with the minister there, Rev. Jamie Miliken. For the reception, we knew we wanted a venue that was a little bit different, somewhere that most of our guests had never been before and somewhere that the bridal party could spend the full weekend – we like to stretch out the party as long as possible!  Hillhouse ticked all the boxes.  It is such a gorgeous house that is kept in pristine condition and the grounds are so well kept and bursting with flowers, particularly the walled garden where we had the marquee for our reception.”

Photography by Dasha Caffrey

“We both wanted quite a traditional wedding and stuck to many traditions such as getting married in the church,  playing the ‘Bridal Chorus’ for walking down the aisle etc.  For décor, we wanted to embrace the fact that we were in a gorgeous walled garden setting and bring that feeling into the marquee too.”Jennifer looked impossibly glamorous in a lace Watters gown named ‘Vida’, purchased from Bridal Garden, Glasgow and worn with a long veil from the same boutique.

“I tried on so many dresses before finally finding the one.  I loved the shape and fit of the dress and thought it was just the right style for me.”

On her feet Jennifer wore ‘Abel Ivory’ by Jimmy Choo, while for jewellery she chose earrings, a necklace and bracelets from Rox.  In her hair, under the veil, glittered a sparkly comb by Jon Richard at Debenhams.

The lady responsible for Jennifer’s vintage siren hair and make up was Pauline Adams from The Make-Up Lounge, Troon.  I love the old-Hollywood glamour of this look.  Vintage, but with a modern twist.

The bridesmaids looked lovely in powder blue gowns by Dessy, purchased from June Brides, Glasgow and worn with shoes from ASOS and jewellery and hair accessories from Jon Richard at Debenhams.

To be the florist who provides flowers for a wedding in a walled garden is a hard task, but 27 Alloway of Ayr did a marvellous job.

“We went for white flowers with lots of green foliage.  I wanted our reception to have a traditional wedding style but continue the garden theme of the setting.”

Mark meanwhile, looked splendid in his kilt and jacket from Kinloch Anderson in Edinburgh, worn with all the traditional accessories, while his groomsmen played their part in similar outfits from Slanj, Glasgow.

“We got engaged on 24^th January 2015.  Mark gave me a trip to The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye for Christmas and we went at the end of January.  Whilst in Skye, we climbed a hill called The Storr.  It was really beautiful that day because had been quite a bit of snow.  On the way down Mark led me out to a particularly nice spot to take in the view and then got down on one knee and proposed. It was a complete surprise!”

Jennifer was accompanied down the aisle by her dad Ian to the classic Bridal Chorus and she and Mark said the traditional Christian wedding vows to one another.

“After I joined Mark at the altar we stood together facing the minister.  We both reached for one anothers hands but then hesitated as we weren’t sure if we were supposed to stand apart to begin with.  The minister saw us and said ‘It’s okay, you’re allowed to hold hands’ and everyone laughed.  Dasha caught it on camera too.”

The couple exchanged rings from Chisolm Hunter.

“I was quite limited in finding a wedding ring that would sit well with my engagement ring (a sapphire and diamond cluster).  Chisolm Hunter was one of the few that had a diamond wedding band with a notch in it to fit around that type of ring.”

The newlyweds travelled to the reception style in a beautiful vintage car hired from Waterside Weddings, while guests followed in buses from Dodds of Troon.

The day was captured by Dasha Caffrey, whose work Jennifer and Mark were (quite understandably) delighted with.

“Dasha was excellent.  She is so well organised and asked every little detail prior to the day so that she didn’t need to hassle Mark and I about anything.  We were absolutely delighted with the pictures and all of our friends and family have commented on how beautiful they are.”

“There are so many great shots that she snapped away in the background that really tell the story of the day.  We were also very grateful that, although she got loads of great pictures of the two of us, we were hardly away from our guests for any time at all which  meant we could really enjoy the day.”

Catering was the work of By Alice Bespoke Catering, while the beautiful blue and silver cake was made by Sugar and Spice.

“For favours we gave small white watering cans with succulents in them to all of the women at the wedding.  The watering cans and plants were provided by the florist, 27 Alloway and the tags were made by Com Bossa, who also did all of our wedding stationery.”

At the drinks reception, Andy Lucas played piano for guests and, as a surprise for Mark, Jennifer sang ‘At Last’ by Etta James with Andy as accompaniment.  How brave and absolutely fantastic!

In the evening, wedding band Classic Noir kept the dance floor filled all night and the newlyweds had their first dance to ‘Make You Feel My Love’ by Bob Dylan, Mark’s favourite.

Words of Wedded Wisdom

“It’s important that everyone in the wedding party is clear about the jobs you would like them to do on the day.  It means that, as the bride and groom, you can relax and enjoy the day completely.  At the rehearsal we gave out an information sheet to each of our parents, bridesmaids, ushers, and best man. It gave them a timetable for the day and also detailed anything we particularly wanted them to help us with.  It might seem a bit over the top but it helped things go really smoothly.”

Huge thanks to Jennifer and Mark for sharing their day and to Dasha Caffrey for her images.  Tempted by a Watters gown?  Take a peek here for other Watters-wearing Love My Dress brides.

Much love,

Shona x