Today’s feature is a fairytale wedding at a Scottish castle, and it’s simply stunning! Maureen spent the run-up to her wedding on crutches (having broken her ankle during a fitness bootcamp), not knowing if she would be able to even walk down the aisle cast-free… But of course she did — no fairytale wedding ends with a bride on crutches! Maureen was also able to wear a fabulous pair of blue shoes to glide down the aisle in. They looked perfect with her beautiful bespoke wedding dress.

Maureen and Pieter’s natural wedding styling really suited the surroundings of their spectacular Scottish wedding, with thistles and tartan of course featuring. Something else that ‘features’ is a really cool Lego cake topper… so cute!

Huge thanks to Andrew Thomas Photography for sharing the amazing pictures of this fabulous wedding.

Bride and groom in grounds of Culcreach Castle Hotel

Good in a Crisis

“Maureen and I met in a bar in west London back on February 13th 2014. It seems we both had the same idea that being single on Valentine’s Day is a bit rubbish, so decided to head out and see if we liked the look of anyone!

“Now no one ever believes me, but Maureen actually took the initiative and chatted me up. I was at the bar with a friend when she leant over and said “you look like a man who is good in a crisis — I’ve got no idea what to drink!”

“I proposed to Maureen on March 4th 2016, by the side of Lake Windermere in the Lake District, as the sun was setting. Little did we know that James Matthews would propose in the same place to Pippa Middleton only a few months later.”

Culcreach Castle Hotel

Scottish flag on Culcreach Castle Hotel

Culcreach Castle Hotel grounds

Thistle buttonhole

Groom adjusting tie in mirror

Groomsmen getting ready for wedding

Groomsmen standing in a line

Man sitting on bench before wedding

Bridal party

Bride with father and grandfather

Inside St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Mural in St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Ceiling of St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Scottish sword

“Maureen knew exactly what style of dress she wanted but couldn’t find it during months of dress shopping. She uses a local seamstress occasionally to make skirts for work so decided she would have a go at designing her own dress so she had something very personal to her and unique in its style.”

Bride walking with bridesmaids to church

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Church organ player

Groom waiting at altar

Bridesmaid walking down the aisle

Groom looking over shoulder to see bride walk down the aisle

Father walking bride down the aisle at St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Bride walking down the aisle with father

Bride and groom at altar

Priest of St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Women taking candles to front of church

Wedding reading

Bride and groom sitting during wedding ceremony

Bridesmaids in church

Bride and groom holding hands during wedding ceremony at St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Bride and groom lighting candles in church

Bride and groom kiss

Wedding ceremony in St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Bridal party in line in St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Bride and groom leaving wedding ceremony

Bride and groom standing in Scottish countryside

Relief and Happiness

“Our memories of the day are very much linked to our memories of the entire build-up to the wedding. While taking part in a military fitness class in January, Maureen broke her ankle in two places, requiring surgery with screws and a metal plate put into her ankle. On crutches and in plaster for six weeks before moving to crutches and a boot, Maureen only began moving without crutches in May, one month before the wedding. Needless to say it took intensive physio so Maureen could walk down the aisle, and some good flat shoes to complete the first dance!

“This dominated the whole build up to the wedding day, so the relief and happiness we felt that it didn’t end up affecting the day was amazing. Oh, and the Scottish weather turned from rainy to glorious sunshine on the day — so lucky!”

Bride and groom kissing in Scottish countryside

Bride and groom standing in Scottish countryside

Bride and groom with ice creams

Ice cream van

Bridesmaids in white dresses

Wedding guest pointing at camera

Red tartan trousers

Bridal party in grounds of Culcreach Castle Hotel

Man in kilt sitting on bench at wedding

Bridesmaids

Galbraith Hall at Culcreach Castle Hotel

Wedding seating plan

Table styling at Culcreach Castle Hotel wedding

Wedding place setting

Candles

Wedding favour

Candle on wedding table

Wedding guest book

Natural Styling

“Our wedding reception took place at Culcreuch Castle Hotel. We wanted very natural wedding styling to suit the aesthetic of an old Scottish castle. With that in mind we chose wild flowers as the bouquets and eucalyptus on the tables. We then had several candles across the tables and the venue to remove any overhead lighting and make it feel more atmospheric. Lanterns outside the venue, draped white lighting on the back of the dance floor, and festoon lighting in the courtyard brought the venue to life.

“For the evening entertainment we started with my brother and one of my best friends singing a duet (they’ve both played in bands), and then we had a traditional Scottish Ceilidh Band. Even Maureen’s 90 year old grandfather danced!”

Wedding cake with fresh berries

Wedding cake with fresh berries

Child with wedding activity book

Wedding announcement

Bride and groom smiling

Father of the bride speech

Bride smiling

Groom speech

Best man speech

Photograph of groom as young boy

Bride and groom laughing at speech

Wedding speech

Wedding toast

Lego bride and groom

Bride's bouquet on grass

Bride and groom on swing

Bride and groom kissing

Bride and groom walking in Wedding cake with fresh berries grounds

Groom with bride with her hand on her hip

Bride and groom kissing

Thistle buttonhole on groom's jacket

Advice to Other Couples

“Don’t get bullied by suppliers into dressing your venue the way they want. Stick to your guns and your own vision. We had to find someone different to help us dress the venue only a month before the wedding as the previous person had agreed with our thoughts then totally ignored us when we saw the final idea.

“Also, book your photographer really early. We booked ours six months out, and even then there were a couple who were already booked. The same, of course, goes for the venue!

“Finally, relax and enjoy the day, and find some time to spend just with each other. We grabbed a glass of champagne together for 20 minutes on the day, out of the way of everyone else. It was such a lovely way to listen to each other and talk about how great the day had been whilst we were still living it.”

Bride's ponytail hairstyle

Bride looking over her shoulder

Bride and groom walking towards woodland

Wedding guest book and card box

Wedding cake with lego bride and groom

Bride and groom cutting wedding cake with sword

Wedding first dance

Bride and groom's feet on dance floor

Bride and groom dancing

Guitarist

Dancing at wedding

Wedding singer

Guests dancing at wedding

Ceilidh band at wedding

Bride and groom smiling

Photographer: Andrew Thomas Photography

Ceremony Venue: St Aloysius Church, Glasgow

Reception Venue and Catering: Culcreuch Castle Hotel, Fintry, Scotland

Wedding Dress: Designed by the Bride with Her Own Seamstress

Shoes: Bride’s Own

Suits: Hawes and Curtis

Bridesmaid Dresses: Reiss

Flowers: Quidest of Hyndland, Glasgow

Cake: Three Sister’s Bake

Entertainment: Ceilidh Band, Jamie Smith

Styling Details and Finishing Touches: Make Believe Events