Crieff Hydro Hotel

How did you meet? In 2006 Donnie and I both started Cadetships at City of Glasgow Nautical College, to become Merchant Navy Deck Officers. Despite promising my mother that I was a career woman now, and had no interest in meeting a boyfriend (I was sixteen at the time), Donnie and I became an item after only two weeks, when I asked to him to help fend off some unwanted advances, by pretending to be my boyfriend. I didn’t think he would take the position so seriously, but I’m glad he did. Did you have a theme for the big day? What made you choose the month of May? We picked May because we wanted to make the most of the Bank Holiday Weekend and the usual good weather that comes with it. Luckily the Victorian Gardens were in full bloom, and we got some amazing colours in our photos. The theme for our wedding was ‘Good Food, Good Wine, Good Music, Good Time’. Donnie and I had friends and family gathering from all over the world, and we really wanted to focus on the celebration of our marriage. For the visual aspects of the day, I was actually inspired by a peacock feather flower display we saw at a Crieff Hydro Wedding Show. The display incorporated all of our favourite colours purple, teal and gold, and this became the colour scheme for the wedding. How did you know that Jenny/Donnie was ‘The One’? Donnie – Our relationship has endured a lot, and we’ve spent more time apart than together since we first met, but the idea of spending the rest of our lives together, was one that just made sense. Our jobs will never let us get as much time together as we’d like, but that’s only made us stronger as a couple. There’s no-one else I’d rather be married to. Jenny – Due to the nature of our job, Donnie and I spend more than six months of the year apart, the longest stretch being eight months in a row. It’s not an easy way of life and many people wouldn’t understand or be able to tolerate the long distance. Marriage is something very special to me so when I had to ask myself the question – ‘is that what I want for the rest of my life?’ – the answer was easy. We had a wonderful life together already, I couldn’t imagine not sharing that with him for the rest of my life. And importantly, as I said in my vows, he knows when to make the tea and when to pour the wine. What was your favourite part of the day? Jenny – It’s very hard to choose because our whole day really was incredible. Besides the ceremony I honestly think the next best part might have been the food. As a huge foodie, the food at the wedding was very important to me. From the canapés, wedding breakfast and profiterole tower wedding cake, to the bacon at the bacon roll buffet, our friends and family still talk about how well fed and watered they were throughout the day. Donnie – Having all of our friends and family around us was fantastic. You can’t not enjoy yourself when the entire day is essentially one big party with everyone you love. How did you feel on the wedding morning? Did you have any pre-wedding jitters, if so what helped you get past them? Jenny – I had the best time on my wedding morning! I spent the hours before being pampered with hair and make-up, surrounded by best friends and family, feeling very relaxed. I’d checked and double checked all the plans a few days before so there was nothing to worry about a few hours before the wedding. The team at Crieff Hydro were all on hand to deal with anything that came up. Donnie – Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover it. The worst part for me, was that once the kilt was on there wasn’t a whole lot for me to do, so I was standing around waiting for people to start arriving. This is the point where you need your groomsmen and best man lightening the mood and taking your mind off the enormity of the day. Even though I was nervous, I never had any doubts. It wasn’t the idea of getting married to Jenny that had me nervous, it was just the idea that I might forget my vows, or say the wrong thing or stand in the wrong place. In the end, it all turned out perfectly. Would you ever have trusted Donnie to organise the whole thing – ‘Don’t tell the Bride’ style? I think Donnie would have been able to organise a wedding, but he admits it would have been nothing at all like the one we ended up having. Who proposed and how did they do it? Donnie proposed on our 5th Anniversary while on holiday. Whenever he would buy me a gift, he would tease me with a riddle to see if I could guess what it was. The Riddle for my anniversary gift was: ‘It’s very big, it’s quite shiny and it’s very impractical’. I later learned the original plan was to go for a walk on the beach before dinner on our last night, and he would propose there. However, after a romantic dinner and some lovely wine the night before, Donnie couldn’t wait any longer and asked me to give a final guess. After a few wrong guesses, I finally worked it out. The answer was Donnie. He’s very tall (very big), he had joked a bit about a thinning hair line (shiny head) and he’s a nightmare trying to organise anything (very impractical). When I asked him to clarify, he took out the ring box, got down on one knee and asked if I wanted to have him for the rest of my life? Of course, I immediately burst out crying and said yes. What was the most romantic thing that happened on day? Jenny – The most romantic part was definitely Donnie’s vows during our ceremony. It was a very special moment and very heartfelt. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Donnie – The whole day was fantastic, but the one part that stood out for me was at the start of the dancing in the evening. Just before our first dance Jen surprised me by getting up on stage and singing for me. Apparently she’d arranged it in secret with the band, and nobody else was expecting it either. It was a great wee surprise to have on the day. Did anything funny or unexpected happen on the day? Not on the wedding day, thankfully! But while driving between the venue and our home, we were involved in a road accident and hit by another car. Gratefully the damage was small and neither of us were injured. We had arranged to meet friends and family in the bar at Crieff Hydro the night before the wedding, and to have a rehearsal for the ceremony, all of which Donnie was forced to miss and instead spent the evening at the police station reporting the incident. We’re glad that was the only bad thing to happen that weekend. What was the most memorable part of your big day? Jenny – It’s very hard to pick one thing because we were blessed with such a wonderful wedding and it all passed by so quickly. The biggest memory of the day is just how much love and laughter there was in the room for us both. We couldn’t stop smiling and laughing. Donnie – The whole day was perfect, I don’t think I can really pick any one thing. We were lucky in that everything went off perfectly, there were no issues and there was no drama. We couldn’t really fault it. What would be your one key piece of advice bride to bride & groom to groom? Jenny – Please yourselves. It’s very easy to get caught up in what other people’s expectations of your wedding might be. Focus on the things that are important to you both. Donnie – The people you surround yourself with can make all the difference. Get your groomsmen and bridesmaids right and they’ll take a lot of the pressure off you both on the day.

How did you meet? We met through our work, but were friends for a long time before we got together. How did you come to choose us as your venue? Iain had been to Crieff Hydro for a Christmas Party Night and absolutely raved about the place. As soon as we went for our first visit, we booked! It was the easiest decision of the wedding. How did you choose your flowers and colour scheme? I (Laura) took the leading role on this… I didn’t want to go over the top with flowers. I just wanted white peonies, that looked simple and elegant. As far as the colour scheme went, it wasn’t really a big thought process at all. Iain wanted the wedding party to wear navy, and I fell in love with a wine-coloured dress that my bridesmaid wore… luckily those colours worked out well together! Where did you get your dress from, and how did you choose it? Ivory Whites in Perth. It was one of the first dresses I tried on! The shop owner, Caryn, put me at complete ease and she did everything she could to make me feel special. I would definitely recommend the shop to other brides. How did you know that Iain/Laura was ‘The One’? We both agree – we knew straight away (as cheesy as that sounds!). What was your favourite part of the day? Our favourite part of the day, was probably the wedding breakfast. It was the first time during the day that we got to see all of our favourite people, and see that they were having a good time. The food was fantastic and it gave us both a real buzz before the evening reception. Did you have any pre-wedding jitters, if so what helped you get past them? We both did! Standing up in front of everyone was terrifying, but as soon as we met at the top of the aisle it got easier. Would you ever have trusted Iain to organise the whole thing – ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ style? Yes-and-no, sorry Iain! There’s no doubt that Iain would do everything he could to make me happy, but he just wouldn’t know how to stick to a budget. What made you choose May to get married? We didn’t want a long drawn out engagement, and we wanted to get married within a year if it was possible. When we bounced dates around with your wedding coordinator, Kathryn, May 14th was one of the only dates that were free in 2016. Couldn’t have worked out better, because it was blue skies all day! How did you feel on the wedding morning? Nervous, but mostly excited! What song did you choose for your first dance? John Mayer- XO. What was the most romantic thing about the day? Probably right after we said ‘I do’. we both walked out of the ceremony room wearing big smiles and when we got out the room we jumped about a bit. Did anything funny happen/unexpected on the day? My mum made a speech on the day which took us both by surprise. She did an amazing job! There were other little moments throughout the day that took us by surprise, like when our two-year-old son stood between us during our vows. What was the most memorable part of the day? Has to be when our son Ashton joined us both in our first dance. It was totally unexpected. We feel so honoured that we got to share such a special moment with him and it’s something we will always remember.

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? Friends of ours were married at the Crieff Hydro a few years before and I was completely blown away by the style of the venue and the service – there was really no contest! And true to our expectation, it was everything we wanted in a wedding venue: elegant and sophisticated surroundings; the coordinator, master of ceremonies and staff were so friendly and professional; and the food is to die for! All through the day my guests were coming up to tell me what a great location we had chosen for the wedding, and now, after seeing mine, another friend of mine is even looking to have her wedding here too! What would be your one key piece of advice bride to bride & groom to groom? Bride to Bride: I would advise a bride to work up from the bottom up. It is easy to get pulled in to picking the dresses first, or the centrepieces but try to pick out the fundamentals first. Start with the venue, the flowers, the cake, the DJ and then move on to the dresses, favours, etc., after that. Personally, I felt it helped keep control of the whole wedding and kept me organised. Groom to Groom: Just give the bride control over the day… It is easier that way! How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? We met when we were both teenagers while we were working at Homebase. It was my first job, and Matthew was my first ever boyfriend! We hit it off right away and in the time we were apart, we kept in touch until we got back together. Matthew proposed on his 30th birthday. He was actually planning to propose the day after while we were walking around Loch Muick, but I actually took the day off to surprise him. I pretended to get up early to go to work, while I was actually downstairs getting the house decorated and bringing out the cake and his presents. After I realised he was set on a proper lie in (he does love a lie in!) I put our fancy breakfast on a decorated tray and woke him up. I gave him his presents, then he told me he had a present for me – and popped the question! How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? You never think the person you meet when you are 16 will be the one you end up marrying, but equally, I always knew that when we broke up (always amicably!) it wasn’t the end. In fact, whenever we bumped into each other we always grabbed a coffee and it was like we had never been apart! That and he always made me laugh, always made me feel safe and happy. What was your favourite part of the day? Our favourite part of the day had to be the ceremony – just because it was so beautiful, everything was perfect and it was amazing coming up the aisle to see Matthew waiting for me. It felt so surreal walking past all our family and friends, it was very emotional. What song did you choose for your first dance? For our first dance we chose “Feeling Good”, by Michael Bublé as we both wanted something a little different, romantic but not overly so. We thought that it perfectly summed up how we felt on the day. What was the most romantic thing about the day? The most romantic part of the day was when we were off to get the photographs at the View Point. I think this was because it was our spell of alone time during the wedding, and it was such a beautiful spot. We were all excited from having just finished our ceremony and it just felt really surreal. Did anything funny happen/unexpected on the day? Matthew had told me the night before the wedding that I wasn’t to worry, he would deal with everything on the day. So when the day arrived and he’d lost the marriage schedule there was a bit of a panic. His sister, also one of the bridesmaids, saw him running around (apparently he’d gone through his room, his parent’s room, and all the bags but just couldn’t find it anywhere!) Thank goodness she mentioned it to me, because the whole time I had it sitting on the dressing table. It’s one of these things that’s pretty funny in hindsight- so is the fact he thought I would let him take charge of the paperwork!!! What was the most memorable part of the day? The most memorable part of the day would have to be during the ceremony when we heard for the first time the three things we love most about the other. Although we live together and have been together for so many years you don’t always say these things out loud and to be honest, some of what Matthew had said surprised me (in a good way!) I know I surprised him with mine!

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? I (Lynsey) knew I wanted to get married at Crieff Hydro from the first time I stayed here with my family, when I was just 5 years old. I absolutely loved the drawing room and have so many happy memories with my family at Crieff. Shane & I first came to stay for our 5 year anniversary, and I'm so pleased to say that he fell in love with it too. We have stayed so many times since then it's impossible to count, but a lot of our best days have taken place at Crieff Hydro and it really is our "happy place". It's a place we can enjoy some time for ourselves, whether it be walking in the beautiful grounds, relaxing in the Victorian Spa or enjoying a strawberry daiquiri in the brasserie! What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom? Bride to bride: take in as much of the day as possible because it really does go in so fast. One minute you're sipping champagne in your room getting ready and the next you're having your first dance!</p> Groom to groom: relax, nothing will go wrong because you're in the best hands possible with Dawn, Claire & the rest of the team at Crieff Hydro! Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it? I got my dress from a shop called This Year's Love in Hamilton (South Lanarkshire). My 15-year-old cousin (who was also my bridesmaid) actually chose it for me. She saw it hanging up and said she thought that would be the one. I knew it was as soon as I saw myself in the mirror and Valerie, the shop owner, put the veil on. I remember getting so emotional and saying "I look like a bride!". How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? We met at a Motherwell game when Shane was 15 and I was 14. On Monday (5th November) we'll have been together for 11 years! Shane proposed to me on 2nd July 2015. We were celebrating my birthday and he'd surprised me with dinner and an overnight at Crieff Hydro. </p> <p>Since I was a girl I've always loved the shooting star on the way to the brasserie and every time I pass it I have to stop and watch it. It's a tradition I still hold to this day. When we first came to Crieff Shane observed this tradition and decided that this is where he wanted to propose to me one day. So, a couple of years after that 5th anniversary trip, on the 2nd July 2015, that's exactly what he did. </p> <p>We were walking downstairs and heading for the brasserie. Shane was very particular about the route he wanted to walk in while I was trying to take him different ways. Shane got his way, though and as we both looked up at the shooting star Shane got down on one knee. The proposal was very romantic and came from the heart, and once I realised what was actually happening I couldn’t say yes fast enough. How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? We realised quite early on into our relationship that we had found "the one" in the the other person. We went to different schools and only saw each other at the weekends at first. We would get so excited knowing that we were going to see each other and we both just remember never wanting that feeling to ever go away. What was your favourite part of the day? The walk from the Loggia to the Winter Garden to get our photos taken, when it was just the two of us, and we both realised "this is it, we're married!" What song did you choose for your first dance? Perfect by Ed Sheeran. We thought the words really sum up our story! What was the most romantic thing about the day? We had to give our humanist ten things we love about each other to be read out at the ceremony. Neither of us knew what the other had written until this point, so it was so romantic that this formed part of our ceremony. Did anything funny happen on the day? I forgot to ask my maid of honour to do a reading during the ceremony and it wasn't until we were getting ready that my auntie (who was also doing a reading) was asking her about it and we realised I'd never actually asked her! She was so worried about it, I felt so bad but she aced it when the time came! What was the most memorable part of the day? Just seeing everyone so happy and having a good boogie at the reception.

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? My husband and I have been coming to Crieff hydro every year since 2010. We bought a deal after the really bad winter and our flat got flooded and we needed a break. We booked a deal and fell in love with the place and have returned 2 or 3 times a year ever since. It was an ideal venue as it was half way between both our families as my hubby’s family live in Paisley and my family are from Inverness. I have always dreamed of getting married in Crieff Hydro and or dreams came true. What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom? From bride to bride: I would advise to please yourself and your hubby and do what you both want and what makes you happy. Make time for each other on the day just the two of you as it goes by in a flash I had a groom who liked to be in control in a good way and he eventually realised that you cannot control what happens on the day and to trust everyone that you have booked as everything comes together perfectly. My hubby wishes he spent more time for himself and us and less time trying to run around after everyone. It's your day and you get one shot at it, make the most of it 😃 Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it? My dress was the first one had seen online... I tried it on and fell in love with it. My bridesmaids and mum could not believe it as I have spent more time picking dresses and being indecisive for friends’ weddings than in did for my own. Apparently, I made it very easy and stress free for them. My wee mum bought my beautiful dress from Bibbidi Bibbidi boo in East Kilbride. My dress was beautiful and I wish I could wear it again. How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? Kenny and I both work in the police and worked together on the shift as neighbours for a year before we started dating. That was over 10 years ago now and it has flown by. Kenny loves Crieff hydro as much as me and it is our hideaway and place to chill and relax away from the stresses of everyday life so it was even more special when he chose to propose to me near the tennis courts on the 8th June 2016 and I said yes. Needless to say, it didn't go as planned and we had such a laugh but it worked out perfectly in the end. Our engagement story formed part of the highlight of our ceremony. How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? We just clicked and were amazing friends before anything actually happened and I just knew when we started dating that he was the one. He looks after and protects me and also drives me crazy. I know I drive him nuts too and that's how we have lasted so long. We bicker and argue like any other couple but we both know we couldn't live without each other. What was your favourite part of the day? Everything about the day was just perfect. I cannot thank Dawn and Clare enough for everything they did as not a thing went wrong. I loved getting ready in the beautiful bridal suite with my mum and girls to walking down the aisle with my wee dad and then marrying my soul mate. Having all our friends and family there who travelled so far and the majority spent the whole weekend with us. The wedding lasted for days and it has been great memories for us. What song did you choose for your first dance? Ed Sheeran – Perfect - Chris Suckle played the song for us and his band were amazing. What was the most romantic thing about the day? Marrying Kenny and saying our vows to sneaking off with the photographer to have some time together and take it all in. We went up to the Knock for some time on our own and have the most beautiful photos of just the two of us. I am so grateful to our photographer for stealing us away for half an hour to have that time alone with my new hubby. We both loved it and enjoyed a wee fizz and took a deep breath taking it all in Did anything funny happen on the day? The best man's speech was the most hilarious part of the day. Chris, Kenny’s brother did him proud and got him a belter. He had no idea and Chris made such an effort with a slide show and everything. We were taken aback and it was just so funny... we had tears running down our faces and the photos say it all. What was the most memorable part of the day? The most memorable part of the day was our ceremony. John Foley our celebrant helped write our script perfectly and everything about it was about us. That's what we wanted and for everyone to know our story and we also said things about each other that we both didn't know until the day which made it even more special to hear what each other felt about one another.

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? John has been visiting the Hydro with his family since he was a wee boy and he is now nearly 50! We have been visiting the Hydro together for nearly 14 years and have always loved the Hotel, its friendliness and it is like a little community with everything at hand. We have always received excellent service and just knew that it would make a fantastic wedding venue for us to make more special memories at the Hydro. We wanted to make a weekend of it as we had family travelling from places such as Australia, Plymouth & Manchester - there was more than sufficient accommodation of varying types for our guests. We arranged a fun golf competition on the Friday afternoon and for those who didn't play golf we visited the spa and relaxed for a couple of hours. Everyone enjoyed their stay. What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom? Be as organised as you can throughout the planning of your wedding and do as much as possible well before the week leading up to your wedding and then you can relax!! A spreadsheet with everything on it is really handy.</p> <p>Relax on the day and enjoy it. Don't worry about the day itself as Dawn and Claire had noted and thought of everything. They are so professional. Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it? Apple Blossom Time, Glencarse, Perth. I tried on many different styles of dresses, however, I loved the dress I choose because I think it was simple and classy. The lace detail on it was amazing and it was super comfy. How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? We met whilst working at Montrose Police Office. John proposed to Gillian on the island of Lanzarote after a romantic dinner at a beach front restaurant by producing a ring box from a magic bag after Gillian played along and had checked it was empty. Then John popped the question. How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? We have been together for nearly 14 years, we always have lots of fun together. We share a lot of the same interests and make each other laugh and we can't wait to spend the rest of our lives together What was your favourite part of the day? There was not one favourite part to the day it was all fantastic from start to finish, the weather, the venue, the decorations, the photographer, the piper, the ceremony, the drinks reception, the meal, the evening reception and food, the band and all the Crieff Hydro Staff. If we were to be pinned down to one thing it who have to be the ceremony itself with the grandeur of the drawing room, the view out of the window and the decoration all contributing to the excitement and atmosphere of the occasion. What song did you choose for your first dance? I'm Ready by Bryan Adams. We love the song and it is special to us because it is so appropriate and Bryan Adams played it in our home town of Montrose a few years ago. What was the most romantic thing about the day? There were many special moments throughout the day but one moment we will remember was after the end of the day when we managed to take a breath we headed back to our room expecting it to be a bit of a mess only to find it was immaculately tidy with a bottle champagne, chocolates and a bowl of fruit sitting waiting for us. What a beautiful touch. Did anything funny happen on the day? I hadn't expected the morning whilst I was getting ready with my bridesmaids to be so much fun, I hadn't actually thought too much about it. We went out for a run at 0730 hours which was great, it was such a lovely morning and was wonderful to run round the empty streets of Crieff and just chill. Anybody that we passed was made aware that I was getting married!!!! lol lol The time, thereafter, spent getting ready was just so memorable, we all laughed from start to finish and even the hairdressers / make up artist / photographer joined in and commented later on how much hilarity was coming from the room. My friends had made a mini buffet which everybody tucked in to. Such an entertaining, unexpected few hours at the start of my wedding day. What was the most memorable part of the day? Although there were many memorable parts to the day. The two 2 year olds (Parker and Elsie) stole the show, they were the equivalent of little Ant and Dec. They stay at opposite ends of the country and had only spoken on the phone before the wedding. See the attached photograph which looks like they are an old married couple and Elsie is adjusting Parkers button hole to smarten him up. They were both beautiful and sooo cute.

How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? We met as students in Dundee and lived there together for four years. When I finished my master’s degree, we decided to take the leap and move to Australia. We travelled along the South-East coast for a while, before settling in Sydney. In 2014, we went on a mini break to the Hunter Valley in New South Wales where Michael proposed – he tricked me by pretending there was a kangaroo right behind me, when I turned back to him to ask what he was on about, he was down on one knee. We’d talked about getting engaged for a long time and I picked out the ring, so it wasn’t exactly a surprise proposal, but I was overwhelmed all the same. What would be your one key piece of advice bride to bride & groom to groom? Be in the moment. Don’t think about the next event of the day. Kathryn and her team have got everything running seamlessly, and will do anything to have it exactly as you want it. All you need to worry about is having the best day of your life, with the people you love the most, in the moments that matter. How did you know that Samantha/Michael was ‘The One’? Samantha – I can’t remember a point where I thought Michael was ‘The One’. That sounds really bad, but we work so well together as a couple, it was a decision I didn’t even have to think about or question. We have a relationship where we can talk about anything together; we have the same goals and dreams, we plan our next steps in life together and we know that the other is there to support anything we want to do. I said in my vows that I love him wholly and completely, as my partner in life, and I truly do. Michael – Samantha and I had been partners in crime for over nine years before we got married. There is so much rich history and experience in those years. We both share a love of travel and each trip we took strengthened our relationship and convictions in our partnership. I know Samantha is the one because together with her we have built a life filled with joy and companionship. What was your favourite part of the day? We honestly can’t pick a favourite part of the whole day. We talk about it often, trying to chose a moment that stands out more than the rest, but there isn’t one. The whole day was filled with moments of love, laughter and pride. It’s impossible to choose between the big events of the day, like saying our own vows to each other or having Michael’s best friend marry us; and the little moments like watching the morning fog lift from the bridal suite with my closest friends, or the final dance with those left standing. We would do it again in a heartbeat – exactly how it was. What was the most romantic thing about the day? Aside from getting married (obviously), having a few moments to ourselves as we walked around the gardens was one of the most romantic moments. We were able to catch up with each other about the morning and take a breath away from everyone else. What was the most memorable part of the day? Samantha – The moment before entering the ceremony room when everyone inside was quiet and waiting. I had been so calm and collected until that point, when I realised that everyone I love on this side of the world was in there, and the three year wait to walk with my dad down the aisle to marry Michael was almost over. Michael – We try to visit home as often as we can and we miss everyone a great deal when we are away, so to have all our friends and family in one place for a whole weekend was very special.

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? We had visited Crieff Hydro a couple of times for a night away with and without the kids and loved every minute of our breaks. The most important thing for us when choosing our venue was our children who were 6 and 3 at the time. We wanted a venue that was child-friendly, one that would allow them to run around and have fun, while also staying safe. Crieff Hydro was exactly what we were looking for and us, along with friends & family, travelled the 95 mile trip and made the weekend of it!</p> <p>Dawn, Hannah and the rest of the team were amazing from start to finish. No matter how big or small the query was, Dawn was on hand to be of assistance and put our mind at rest. Nothing was too much trouble. What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom? Bride to Bride - Its often easy to lose sight of your dream wedding when you’ve constantly got other people giving you their opinions. My advice is simple, it’s your wedding so do it exactly the way you want to as you’ll never keep everyone happy no matter what Groom to Groom - Focus on the things that are important to you Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it? I got my dress from L.A. Bridal in Galashiels, Scottish Borders. I described the style I was looking for and explained it was important to me that my dress wasn’t too heavy as I knew I’d still be running around dealing with the kids on the day. Amy picked out the dress from what I told her I was looking for and I loved it from the moment I tried it on, it was just perfect! Amy is absolutely amazing at what she does! How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? Colin and I first met as friends in what is now our local pub about 19 years ago and have been together for 8 years. Colin proposed on Christmas Day in 2015. We got up with the kids early to see if ‘Santa’ had visited and upon opening the curtains, he had put up fairy lights along our back fence spelling out ‘Marry Me’, when I turned around he was down on one knee with the kids beside him holding the ring box. It’s been special for us to have the kids involved along our journey. How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? Colin and I developed a genuine friendship over the years, learning everything we wanted to know about each other and not having to pretend to be someone we’re not. We had so much common and made each other laugh, you just know when they are ‘the one’ What was your favourite part of the day? Our favourite part of the day was walking back up the aisle after the ceremony with our kids, knowing that we all shared the same surname. Something so simple that made us smile. What song did you choose for your first dance? Say you won’t let go by James Arthur - this song just sums us up perfectly What was the most romantic thing about the day? Probably being able to get a bit time to ourselves outside after getting our photographs, a chance to say hello to each other and reflect on the day so far. Did anything funny happen on the day? Our 3 year old nephew announcing to the whole room that he needed the toilet during the ceremony, it certainly made everyone laugh out loud. What was the most memorable part of the day? The most memorable part of the day was just for us to see how many of our family and friends had made the effort to travel up to Crieff to be with us for our special day and to help us celebrate. Also seeing the smiles on our kids faces made everything worthwhile.

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? Growing up, Crieff was a regular family holiday every year, sometimes more. It felt like home. So what better way than to celebrate my marriage in Crieff to top off all my memories I've had. Luc was convinced once we had our first wedding meeting with Dawn/Hannah - they were super helpful and full of Joy. We both agreed that Crieff would be a great venue as guests could make a lovely weekend of it by staying for a few nights. (Which is what a lot of the guests did; it was great to spend time with family for a couple of days). What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom? Groom to Groom - At some point during the day (I would recommend prior to the first dance/evening reception) take your wife away and go for a walk around the grounds - talk, laugh, make memories - take it all in. The day goes past so fast and it’s easy to get caught up in it all and forget you have married your best friend. So yes, take 10mins and go for a walk. Bride to Bride - I was told so many times how fast the day goes by, but I never actually thought it would go past as fast as it did. So, remember to take a step back regularly and take it all in. It's the best day of your life so make sure you make memories to remember. Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it? Elganza were brilliant. They ask lots of questions and work out your style. The personal advisor then picks out dresses they think you will love based on your answers. One of the dresses that my advisor chose, I didn't like at first, (probably because of the big bow on the front) but I tried it anyway. I instantly fell in love with it, (as long as the bow was removed). Elganza spoke with the designers who agreed to remove the bow and let me design my own belt. So not only did I get my perfect dress, the dress was personal and unique to me. (The belt even had my name on it). How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? I met Ruth at a church lunch and the rest is history. I proposed to Ruth on a beach in Ness, Isle of Lewis. (Homeland). I chose Ness as that was the place I fell in love with Ruth, on a weekend visiting her family. I knew Ruth had always wanted a candy floss machine and had a strange taste in RAP music. So, on the beach, I set up a candy floss maker... it didn't work. I forgot about the Lewis winds… Onto my main event. I wrote Ruth a RAP to her favourite song and rapped it to her. The proposal followed on from the RAP - I got a long eeeeehhhhhhh and then a big YES!! Followed by a statement you can't RAP. Overjoyed was an understatement. I didn’t need to RAP every again. How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? There wasn’t really a defining moment, but it slowly became apparent that I was lost when I wasn't with Ruth. I needed Ruth. She completes me. I can't help but smile when I am with her, see her and hear her. That’s when I knew I had to spend the rest of my life with her. Like Luc, there wasn't a defining moment of "the one." Over time I Luc's true character and the fact that he puts me first in every single way imaginable melted my heart. His character made me want to not let him go. What was your favourite part of the day? Luc - Seeing Ruth for the first time as she walked down the aisle (After a cheeky look back Ruth - Apart from the obvious, the morning time. it was lovely just to chill and spend some time with my family and closes friends. What song did you choose for your first dance? Far side of the world - Tidelines What was the most romantic thing about the day? The photos in the grounds of Crieff. The photographers were amazing and we were just able to be ourselves. Did anything funny happen on the day? Ruth during the vows said "I Luc" - that created a lot of laughs. What was the most memorable part of the day? Saying I do Speaking to all the guests and all saying how much fun they are having.

What made you choose Crieff Hydro? My husband and I have been coming to Crieff hydro every year since 2010. We bought a deal after the really bad winter and our flat got flooded and we needed a break. We booked a deal and fell in love with the place and have returned 2 or 3 times a year ever since. It was an ideal venue as it was half way between both our families as my hubby’s family live in Paisley and my family are from Inverness. I have always dreamed of getting married in Crieff Hydro and or dreams came true. What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom? From bride to bride: I would advise to please yourself and your hubby and do what you both want and what makes you happy. Make time for each other on the day just the two of you as it goes by in a flash I had a groom who liked to be in control in a good way and he eventually realised that you cannot control what happens on the day and to trust everyone that you have booked as everything comes together perfectly. My hubby wishes he spent more time for himself and us and less time trying to run around after everyone. It's your day and you get one shot at it, make the most of it 😃 Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it? My dress was the first one had seen online... I tried it on and fell in love with it. My bridesmaids and mum could not believe it as I have spent more time picking dresses and being indecisive for friends’ weddings than in did for my own. Apparently, I made it very easy and stress free for them. My wee mum bought my beautiful dress from Bibbidi Bibbidi boo in East Kilbride. My dress was beautiful and I wish I could wear it again. How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it? Kenny and I both work in the police and worked together on the shift as neighbours for a year before we started dating. That was over 10 years ago now and it has flown by. Kenny loves Crieff hydro as much as me and it is our hideaway and place to chill and relax away from the stresses of everyday life so it was even more special when he chose to propose to me near the tennis courts on the 8th June 2016 and I said yes. Needless to say, it didn't go as planned and we had such a laugh but it worked out perfectly in the end. Our engagement story formed part of the highlight of our ceremony. How did you know that your partner was ‘The One’? We just clicked and were amazing friends before anything actually happened and I just knew when we started dating that he was the one. He looks after and protects me and also drives me crazy. I know I drive him nuts too and that's how we have lasted so long. We bicker and argue like any other couple but we both know we couldn't live without each other. What was your favourite part of the day? Everything about the day was just perfect. I cannot thank Dawn and Clare enough for everything they did as not a thing went wrong. I loved getting ready in the beautiful bridal suite with my mum and girls to walking down the aisle with my wee dad and then marrying my soul mate. Having all our friends and family there who travelled so far and the majority spent the whole weekend with us. The wedding lasted for days and it has been great memories for us. What song did you choose for your first dance? Ed Sheeran – Perfect - Chris Suckle played the song for us and his band were amazing. What was the most romantic thing about the day? Marrying Kenny and saying our vows to sneaking off with the photographer to have some time together and take it all in. We went up to the Knock for some time on our own and have the most beautiful photos of just the two of us. I am so grateful to our photographer for stealing us away for half an hour to have that time alone with my new hubby. We both loved it and enjoyed a wee fizz and took a deep breath taking it all in Did anything funny happen on the day? The best man's speech was the most hilarious part of the day. Chris, Kenny’s brother did him proud and got him a belter. He had no idea and Chris made such an effort with a slide show and everything. We were taken aback and it was just so funny... we had tears running down our faces and the photos say it all. What was the most memorable part of the day? The most memorable part of the day was our ceremony. John Foley our celebrant helped write our script perfectly and everything about it was about us. That's what we wanted and for everyone to know our story and we also said things about each other that we both didn't know until the day which made it even more special to hear what each other felt about one another.