Their story……After 10 years together and a romantic proposal in the south of France (where the groom is from), London-based couple Tara and Marc decided they wanted to wed in a Scottish castle one year later, and Cluny Castle turned out to be their perfect venue.
They thought venue hunting would be “pretty straightforward” but confess they hadn’t anticipated how far in advance places get snapped up.
“Several were already fully booked for 2022 and 2023,” remembers Tara, “But Cluny Castle had a weekend space in June 2022 and it seemed like fate because it’s close to Aberdeen where I grew up. It was lovely to come back to the area and, of course, Cluny is a beautiful setting with the pond, gardens and castle being so spectacular, I don’t think we could have found a more gorgeous venue.”
Planning from afar was mixed.
Tara admits freaking out when she realised caterers and photographers are also snapped up well ahead but luckily “amazing advice” from Fiona and Natalie at Cluny set the pair on the right path and their supplier list fell into place quite quickly.
“Being far away meant we couldn’t attempt to micro-manage, which I think helped,” adds Tara.
“We left a lot of things to the experts and everyone involved gave great advice. That said, good champagne and wine was a priority for Marc so he went to considerable effort on that front!”
Décor-wise, they kept it minimal (white and blue/green) and entrusted florist Isla Duncan to recreate Tara’s Pinterest board.
Minimalism was key when it came to dress shopping, too, and Tara found ‘The One’ in Canada while visiting family.
“From the moment I put it on, it felt right – so comfortable and like a second skin.”
She was able to order it from a London boutique, then it was time to accessorise.
“With a simple dress I wanted fabulous shoes, and I found a baby blue pair of Manolo Blahnik mules with a crystal strap. They were just perfect – and my ‘something blue.’”
She also bought a pair of white Alexander McQueen trainers with a silver heel tab as a comfy evening option and a simple yet subtly sparkly veil.
Tara added sentimental jewellery (a ring that had been in Marc’s family for generations, a pendant he bought her on a trip to India and a bracelet from her parents), and an ostrich feather bolero in case Aberdeenshire didn’t deliver on tropical summer temperatures.
All kitted out, it was time to head down the aisle – and she found it far more emotional than she’d expected.
“I was amazed at the staying power of my make-up,” Tara laughs.
The pair had a humanist ceremony that reflected their values and, luckily, celebrant Lorna Hanlon is bilingual, so the majority was in both French and English. They wrote their own vows and incorporated a handfasting ritual, which was new to many of the overseas guests.
The sunny drinks reception took place at the front of the castle and guests enjoyed champagne, rosé wine and beer, followed by a vodka and gin bar, courtesy of a friend’s French distillery.
Next, Country Flavours of Alford provided a locally-sourced wedding breakfast (having done loads of Cluny weddings they gave great advice on the best set-up), served in a marquee with a clear roof that made the most of the castle views.
The speeches were a French/English mix, and the highlight was when Marc’s grown-up daughters spoke. We hadn’t anticipated this and it was a lovely surprise,” smiles the bride. “In any blended family there are important moments and the wedding brought us even closer together. Marc had to do his speech after and there was no way he could top them!”
After an emotional day, the newlyweds and their guests let loose on the dancefloor.
“The dancing was quite wild,” remembers Tara. “Our ceilidh band did their best to call the moves but our French guests preferred free-styling, and several dances ended up with the whole crowd doing a conga!”
Reflecting on their “magical” day, Marc and Tara would advise other couples, especially those planning from afar, not to sweat the small stuff.
“There were a lot of unknowns,” she says. “We hadn’t seen the marquee before arriving and really had to trust that the caterer and florist interpreted our ideas. On the other hand, they really talked with us and were totally on top of things, so we didn’t have major concerns.”
Tara adds, “Having not seen the marquee fully dressed meant when we did walk into it, there was a sense of wonder that this beautiful atmosphere was created just for us and our loved ones. And yes, things will happen that you don’t anticipate, but everyone will pull the stops out to fix it for your big day.”
These photos were taken and supplied by Apricot Tree Photography:
“It was a very emotion-filled day, which really shines through in the images captured. There was endless laughter from the speeches and a surprise family dance. It’s apparently tradition to perform a dance and song at all big events and this was no exception. It was fantastic, and clear to see how much thought and effort they’d all put into it!”
Sean
Band | Grouse Ceilidh Band
Bride’s dress | Mikaella at London Bride Couture
Bride’s shoes | Manolo Blahnik, Alexander McQueen
Bride’s veil | The Wedding Veil Shop
Bridesmaid dress | David’s Bridal
Celebrant | Lorna Hanlon of Humanist Society Scotland
Cake | Neal’s Yard Dairy
Catering | Country Flavours of Alford
Flower girl dresses | Next
Flowers | Isla Duncan Florist
Groom’s outfit | Cad & The Dandy
Guest transport | RS Coaches
Hair | Kerry Anne Bridal Hair
Make-up | Tracey Cepeda Makeup Artistry
Marquee | Esslemont Marquees
Stationery | Elle Bee Design
Videography | Inspire Video
