It’s serving 90s rom-com, it’s delivering major Four Weddings (without the funeral) and My Best Friend’s Wedding vibes, and I’m SO here for it.
Some love stories deserve a castle, and Sara and Iain’s fairytale celebration at Cluny Castle was no exception. With the turrets and manicured lawns of this Scottish gem as their backdrop (Sara’s first choice!), their summer wedding day was a heady mix of romance and nostalgia and is the perfect nod to the 90s rom-coms we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) love, yet with a chic, modern twist. There’s a big white marquee, a garden’s worth of white and pink roses, and a bridal gown with all the drama.
Sara’s vision is a love letter to the golden age of romantic comedies and everything that made us swoon back then…and still does! Ready to relive the magic? Keep scrolling…
The Venue
As soon as I saw Cluny Castle, I knew I wanted to get married there. We didn’t look anywhere else; it was exactly what I wanted: a fairytale castle. We also loved how we could have the ceremony in the gorgeous castle chapel, followed by the reception in the drawing rooms, and then have our wedding meal and evening party in a marquee by Elegant Pitches in the grounds, overlooking the castle at night, surrounded by fairy lights.
The Fashion
My dress was by Suzanne Neville from Perfect Bridal Rooms in Aberdeen. My shoes were Jimmy Choo, and the bridesmaids wore dresses from Maids to Measure. The groom and groomsmen all wore kilts from Slaters menswear. I had Zoe Gordon for our hair and two makeup artists, Emma McCombie and Courtney Tocher.
The Flowers & Styling
My theme for the day was classic, elegant, and timeless. I really wanted it to feel like a wedding from a 90s rom-com. My colour theme was pink, white, and gold.
Nicky Walker was my florist, and I chose pink and white roses with gypsophila for all my flowers. Nicky’s flowers and styling completely transformed our marquee into exactly what we wanted and so much more. We also had a gorgeous flower arch that Nicky did for the front of the castle.
The Food & Drink
We had Platter & Pop for our catering, who did an amazing sit-down three-course meal. We took time picking our catering company as we wanted to choose a catering company with good quality food and a beautiful, detailed presentation. We are proper foodies and wanted the food to taste and look amazing, and that did not disappoint! We also loved that we could give our guests the option of starter and main, as we know nowadays there are so many dietary requirements.
Gumblossom made our wedding cake. I went for a retro four-tier cake, which was amazing. We chose white chocolate and raspberry, sticky toffee with caramel, lemon curd and chocolate, and Nutella.
Best part of the day
Looking back now, the best part of the day was how Iain and I enjoyed it together, and we both had so much fun. We were with each other all day, and that’s exactly what we wanted. One of the biggest tips I got from so many people before the wedding was, “Make sure you spend plenty of time with your new husband on the day as time goes so fast and sometimes you are pulled away”, and I’m so glad I had that tip. Another favourite part of our day was 100 % our band, The Phat Cats. While we were having our champagne and canapés, we had the “Roaming Cats” where they walked around our reception, singing and interacting with our guests. Everyone just loved it; they were amazing!
From one couple to another
Investigate different suppliers before booking and paying a deposit. Do not rush into booking suppliers immediately; make sure they fit you and your day.
Communication is key. You may think you are super organised and under control, but never assume a supplier will do something or remember something you said. Make sure you have everything written out on your actual wedding day schedule; go over it the night before the wedding, down to the last detail and tick it all off.
Spend as much time as you can with your partner. Your wedding day is all about you two, and it goes so fast—make sure you spend it together. Don’t separate at the reception while greeting your guests, do it together and make sure to spend as much time as possible at the top table together enjoying your meal. You will not regret spending too much time together.
