Their story…
Ailish and Richard live in Inverness with their spoiled dog and their mostly indifferent cat. Both are creative people- Ailish is an illustrator and Richard is a Lego wizard- and they put their talents to good use, bringing unique touches to their family-focussed Highland wedding.
Tell us about your wedding…
We wanted the day to be a celebration of everything that makes our life special now and in the future. We picked Drumnadrochit for its beauty and proximity to main travel links in the Highlands.
Chris and Deb at Polmaily House were absolute stars. They were so kind and they really helped us out so much with questions and visits, recommendations and making sure the day ran smoothly. We booked the place for the week so our families could have some time together and it was an oasis of cosiness.Â
Karen Wotherspoon was our photographer, we saw her work online and thought it was our vibe- we wanted someone to capture the fun but also the beauty of the surroundings and a kind of vintage moodiness. We had a coffee with her followed by an engagement shoot and immediately, we knew we were on the same page. She was also able to direct us to look natural and became one of the most important people we booked on the day for suggestions, support and help.
Corin at North Floral Design took my theme for garden flowers and ran with it, incorporating flowers she’s grown herself. I knew I wanted blue delphiniums, brambles and lily of the valley but I still gasped when I saw how she’d arranged them. The flower crowns in particular were such a showstopper, I feel like they really made the aesthetic of our wedding something different and special – I can’t rave about them enough.
Diane Morrison was our humanist celebrant and she was incredibly understanding and patient with us. When we said we wanted to write our own vows, she helped us so much and even let us change things in the ceremony up until the very last minutes! She beautifully told the story of us and our ceremony felt like an ancient ritual she’d help us put together – a genuinely magical experience. We had a handfasting, we drank from a quaich, read our own vows and exchanged rings; she really encouraged us to have things our way.Â
Our band was Hipflask Ceilidh Band, who, with humour and patience, taught a bunch of English people how to ceilidh….and have a great time doing it! They encouraged everyone up on the dancefloor and made the evening an absolute riot.
We planned our wedding ourselves but I wouldn’t say we were without help. I think living rurally you become very used to planning everything from a distance. We made good use of any time we were able to meet people in person, making sure that we booked to see as many people who were working on the different parts of your day as possible. Other people I spoke to over Teams or email, and most were excellent and so easy to include.
What were your favourite moments on the day?
(Richard) It was a really lovely day and I loved all of our nearest and dearest being there for us on the day. Because we were very self-managed we had lots of our friends and family assisting with umbrellas, serving drinks, clear ups, and just being there to support us. I felt incredibly thankful all day.
It was an absolute dream. After months of planning and deposits paid it was incredible that it all came together- waiting for Ailish to arrive and the ceremony to begin was nerve wracking but made it all matter. It gave the planning so much meaning and purpose. I loved having everyone in our life there to support us, and it became the best party we’ve ever hosted. It was all so much fun.
(Ailish) I was feeling incredibly giddy and nervous all morning but I had my mum, my sister and my bridesmaids getting ready with me, playing music and drinking prosecco so even that part was fun. I loved having a whisky with my dad before walking up the aisle, I remember my brother was on umbrella duty to walk us to the marquee (and all day really, which is handy as he is quite tall), and then I remember seeing Richard for the first time and just feeling incredibly calm for the first time and I couldn’t stop smiling.
The whole day passed in a haze of silliness and love, which is exactly what we wanted. It was basically a glorified summer house party! After the ceilidh we all stayed up in the house while people played songs and drank all sorts of concoctions made by our friends and family. One person never even made it to bed, and I completely forgot to serve our cake or the 5 tier cheese “cake”, which all had to be foisted on to guests the next day. It was perfect.
Make the day about what is important to you as a couple and I don’t just mean you buy more or make it themed. I mean if you love house parties, make that your wedding. Go with it. If you’re emotional people, make it emotional. If you want to change into your pyjamas half way through the night – do it! Don’t get too stressed or hung up on a Pinterest-worthy wedding, life is too messy and fun for perfection.
Venue | Polmaily House, Drumnadrochit
Photographer | Karen Wotherspoon Photography
Celebrant | Diane Morrison, Humanist Society Scotland
Florist | North Floral Design
Hair | HUR by HJM
MUA | Carla Arevalo
Ceilidh Band | Hipflask Ceilidh Band
Invites & Paintings |Ailish Pollock Art (the talented bride!)
