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Dalhousie Castle Wedding Full Of Scottish Traditions

December 31, 2022 | justine

With a 13th-century palace venue, an owl ring bearer, and an overall “Game of Thrones” vibe—Cynthia and Loic’s Dalhousie Castle wedding is an old-world dream come to life! The couple initially planned to get married in France, but after laying their eyes on the riverside estate, it was love at first sight. There was no question that they’d found the perfect venue for their happily ever after. 

Complete with a handfasting and quaich ceremony, the pair was adamant that their wedding would incorporate Scottish traditions, but with a unique twist. On top of the gorgeous and moody aesthetic, their attire was on point, and it’s definitely a must-see! Loic rocked a vintage three-piece suit while Cynthia was stunning in her long sleeve gown with embellished bodice and faux fur shrug

They achieved this exquisite affair with the help of their trusted vendor team, every step of the way. And thankfully, Junebug member Sean Bell was there to capture every well-thought-out detail that filled their special day. After one peak at these photos, we guarantee you’ll spend the entire day daydreaming about your own fairytale castle wedding.

The Couple:

Cynthia and Loic

The Wedding:

Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg, UK

How Their Dalhousie Castle Wedding Came To Be

We were looking for a place to get married in France. But we couldn’t find anything that suited us. Later, we came across a video showing a French couple who had gone to get married in Scotland. This was the trigger for us. We’ve always been drawn to this beautiful country. I don’t know how to explain it. So, seeing that it was possible to get married in Scotland, we talked and found out how to make it possible. That’s when we came across our planner, Gabrielle Plasman’s page. From there, there was no more doubt.

Why They Chose To Get Married In Dalhousie Castle

We saw Dalhousie Castle on our planner’s Instagram. We liked the castle very much, and the chapel for the ceremony seemed perfect. We also noticed the possibility of having the wedding rings delivered by the resident owl Bonnie. We found this idea really beautiful. And also, the place is not far from Edinburgh, so it was perfect for guests to arrive at the venue quite easily. We wanted a romantic atmosphere, an “old world” aspect, with Scottish traditions—handfasting with the ribbon in the colors of the Ramsay clan that owned the castle and the quaich.

Incorporating Scottish Traditions While Personalizing Their Ceremony

The celebrant gave us ceremony models he had made for other weddings, and I changed them to fit us. I wrote when we would exchange our vows, when we would receive our rings, and when we would do handfasting and quaich. So while he was reading the ceremony, I recognized my own words. It was a little strange, but at the same time, I was a little less stressed since I knew the order in which it was going to take place. The most memorable part was undoubtedly the ceremony. In particular, the exchange of our vows was intense and full of emotions and love. 

A Unique Ceremony Surprise By The Castle’s Resident Owl

The whole day was perfect. The ceremony left the biggest impression on us. What we liked the most was seeing our guests’ reactions when our rings were delivered by the magnificent owl of the castle, Bonnie. We didn’t tell anyone to keep the effect of surprise. No one expected it, and it was funny to hear our guests say wow when they saw her make her entrance. 

Choosing Attire That Complemented The Venue And Old World Vibe

We wanted a style that matched the venue and vibe we were going for—old-world and romantic. Loic chose a midnight blue suit with embroidered details and a beautiful brooch. For my dress, I chose a dress with a beautiful volume and glittery details under the tulle of my dress, a pretty train with a long veil. My makeup and hairstyle tied into the “game of thrones” vibe. I also had a faux fur bolero, strengthening the GOT aspect a little. All that was missing was our wolf. (We have a wolf dog.)

Themed DIY Vow Books And Labels

I made our vows books myself because we couldn’t find what we wanted. So I bought blank black notebooks and forest green ribbon. I wrote on the notebook myself with gold felt and made a white and gold wax seal with our two initials. I also made the labels to stick on the guests’ whisky flasks, always in the theme of forest green and gold.

Advice From The Newlyweds

The most crucial aspect of this journey was having our closest loved ones with us, and we are so grateful that they did. And thanks to our wedding team, we enjoyed every minute of it. We recommend that other couples plan ahead to avoid too much stress and have enough time to find the best vendors. Additionally, it would be ideal if you hire a wedding planner.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – Sean Bell
Event Planning – Gabrielle Plasman
Ceremony + Reception Venue – Dalhousie Castle
Cake – Cake couture by Caroline
Officiant – Tim Maguire
Invitation Design – VistaPrint
Makeup + Hair Stylist – Laura Sutherland
Wedding Dress + Bridal Accessories – Sybelle en blanc
Groom’s Apparel + Accessories – Mariage des sacres
Rings – Salon de l’alliance

 

Congratulations to Loic and Cynthia on their Dalhousie Castle wedding infused with Scottish traditions, classic attire, and a whole lot of personality. It truly has us dreaming of a castle celebration—who’s with us?  Whether you want a small affair or a big soiree, you can make finding the perfect fairytale venue a breeze by checking out our guide to hunting down the perfect wedding location.

And a big thank you to Junebug member Sean Bell for capturing the romance and magic of their special day. To see more of his talent, check out his profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding photographers

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This Elegant Coahuila Wedding Lasted Until 3 AM

December 30, 2022 | justine

Are you on the hunt for the most romantic place to say your precious vows? The key is to pick a location that holds your most priceless memories. And when your childhood home is a breathtaking estate with expansive grounds, manicured gardens, and lush landscaping, you’ve got the perfect wedding venue. This was the case for Maria and Gilberto when they decided to host their big day at their family’s picturesque property. By using a dreamy color palette, lush florals, feathery pampas, and earthy luxe decor—it would be an understatement to say that they didn’t hold back in making their dream Coahuila wedding a reality.

They decked out every entryway of the property with dramatic arches and lined the walkway to their garden ceremony with lush arrangements on pillars. Meanwhile, their grand marquee reception featured tablescapes filled with opulent centerpieces, rattan pendant lights and pampas clouds, and suspended fabric streamers. Thanks to their talented vendor team, there was no shortage of show-stopping elements at every turn. On top of the jaw-dropping aesthetic, they kept the party vibe going with live music and drinking games. It’s no wonder the celebration lasted until 3 AM!

Keep scrolling to see every luxurious detail captured by Junebug member David Lack to know exactly what we’re talking about. We guarantee you’ll want to spend all day scrolling through these amazing photos. 

The Couple:

Maria and Gilberto

The Wedding:

Coahuila, Mexico

How Their Coahuila Wedding Came To Be

I always dreamt of having my wedding in my house. The style was country-elegant, with lush florals, all in autumn colors. It matched perfectly as it was in a garden, and the leaves started turning into fall colors. The dance floor was hand-painted in the same colors, and we had rattan lamps hanging from the canopy, lined with hanging fabric streamers.

Having Loved Ones Participate In Their Ceremony

The priest who married us was my teacher in high school, so we were close, and he knew all my bridesmaids. He asked two of them to write a few words for us. Since they are my two best friends, they spoke beautifully about us and brought everyone to tears. He also asked our parents and grandmas to talk during the ceremony, which really moved us.

How The Festive Vibe Kept The Party Going Until 3 AM

The mood of the whole party was awesome. Everybody danced the entire day and night. Everyone looked so happy for us, and we were. For our first dance, we chose the song “From the Ground Up” by Dan + Shay because that spoke to us since the first time we heard it, and dancing it in front of the people we love was just amazing. It was a day-long wedding that lasted until 3 AM!

Giving Each Other Meaningful Gifts

I had a men’s watch my late grandma bought ten years ago as a present for one of my uncles, but she didn’t give it to him. She gave it to my mother to save for a special occasion. My now husband is a watch lover, so I gave it to him that day. He loved it. We also exchanged handwritten letters for us to read as we were getting ready.

Advice From The Newlyweds

Our advice: try to stay calm. It sounds simple, but it’s the best advice. We trusted our wedding planner, and it made everything easier. We realized that if something wasn’t perfect, we wouldn’t be able to fix it, so we didn’t stress at all.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – David Lack
Floral Design – Javier Bredee
Catering – Homero Arras
Officiant – Ismael Barcenas
DJ – Jay Sanchez
Live Music – Pepe Alonso
Videography – Jose Luis Garcia
Invitation Design – Carolina Barba
Makeup + Hair Stylist – Isaura Alvarado
Wedding Dress – Pronovias
Bridal Accessories – Cristina Mourey Bridal Store
Groom’s Apparel – Mauricio Casas
Groom’s Accessories – Montblanc
Groom’s Party Apparel – Nordstrom
Rentals – Moba
Rings – Juan Pablo Castrellon

 

Congratulations to Maria and Gilberto on their elegant Coahuila wedding. And a special shout out to Junebug member David Lack for capturing all the swoon-worthy details and festive vibe. To see more beautiful luxurious weddings like this, check out his profile in our directory of the world’s best wedding photographers.

An experienced team is crucial when putting together a lavish event like this. Whether you go all out or add just a hint of glam, the right team will ensure your special day goes off without a hitch. Lucky for you, you’re just one click away from the top wedding vendors from around the world.

 

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Black And White Modern Piedmont Room Wedding

December 28, 2022 | kailey

The couple’s vision was “date night doubling as a wedding,” and their vendor team definitely understood the assignment. With the help of wedding planner Bri Williams Events, Alex and Marcus created a sophisticated celebration that’s proof nothing–not even a hurricane–can get in the way of true love. 

Due to Hurricane Ian, the couple was forced to move their nuptial inside at the last minute, and the original wedding design had to be completely reimagined. Sticking with the timeless black-and-white color palette, they transformed the Piedmont Room into an enchanting indoor venue. They dressed the historic 1920s space with dramatic drapery, a runway-style aisle, and monochromatic florals by Navy & Jay—completely outshining their “plan A.”

Photographer McKenzie McNeil captured all the unique details that made this celebration one for the books. We’re talking about everything from the jaw-dropping florals to the bride’s three epic outfit changes. And after one glimpse of these inspo-rich images, we guarantee that any fear you had of bad weather on your big day will be cured.

The Couple:

Alex and Marcus

The Wedding:

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Unique Ideas The Couple’s Most Proud Of At Their Piedmont Room Wedding

We are really proud of the small details we included in the wedding. The runway aisle was a fresh idea that we hadn’t seen done too many times, and it really highlighted the ceremony space. As food lovers, we knew that a standard dinner wasn’t us. Instead of a traditional sit-down meal, we chose to have four different food stations (ranging from southern favorites to a sushi station), a dessert grazing table, and a macaron display.

A Memorable Walk Down The Aisle Full of Cheering

The most memorable part of our day was walking down the aisle. We had decided against doing a first look, so the anticipation of seeing each other really heightened the moment. We also decided to arrange guest seating to create a runway, which helped create an atmosphere of excitement among our guests. When Marcus walked down the aisle, guests began to cheer. The cheering continued as our parents, MOH, and best man walked down the aisle. We chose Godspeed by James Blake as our “down the aisle” song. When the song began to play, and we were finally able to see each other, a wave of emotion hit both of us. We couldn’t take our eyes off each other. One of the best moments of our lives.

The Importance Of Hiring Trusted Vendors 

Neither of us had planned so much as a birthday party before our wedding. With that in mind, we knew that we wanted trusted vendors we could rely on to not only execute our vision but make the planning process painless and stress-free. In order to achieve that, the first step is hiring vendors who have demonstrated that they can achieve your aesthetic. They don’t have to have previously worked on the wedding of your dreams, but they should consistently produce work you are a fan of. Remember to be thorough, as you are trusting them with one of the most important days of your life.

Working With Their Photographer and Videographer at Their Piedmont Room Wedding

Our photographer McKenzie McNeil and videographer Jimmy Nugent were amazing to work with. We cannot sing their praises enough. Since we are both camera shy, the prospect of taking wedding and engagement pictures seemed daunting, but after our first session with them, we felt so at ease. On the wedding day, they both ended up feeling like extended members of the wedding party. They were able to wrangle family members into place and pose us for our portraits on a tight timeline, all while capturing beautiful moments without us even noticing. Also, on our first phone call, we expressed how much we love Super8 Film and flash film photography, though they didn’t offer it at that time. By our wedding, they had managed to implement both services! We were ecstatic. After watching our wedding video, we can say with full confidence that we couldn’t have chosen anyone better.

The Wedding Team:

Photography – McKenzie McNeil
Event Planning – Bri Williams
Ceremony + Reception Venue – The Piedmont Room
Floral Design – Navy & Jay
Cake – Gingerspice Bakery
Dessert Grazing Table – Cheese Me
DJ – Jonathan Allen
Videography – Jimmy Nugent
Makeup Artist – Chelsea Cotton
Wedding Party Makeup Artist – Makayla Webb
Hair Styling – Star Carter + Sharory Reid
Wedding Dress – Luce Sposa + Rara Avis + Liudmyla Deneha
Groom’s Apparel – WELTHE NYC
Photobooth – Modern Luxury Booth

 

Congratulations to Alex and Marcus on their stunning Piedmont Room wedding. And big thanks to photographer McKenzie McNeil for preserving all the eye-catching details that wedding planning couples can use as inspiration for their own big day. 

If this couple’s sophisticated, black-and-white celebration has taught us anything, it’s having a “plan B” is crucial. This is especially true when planning an outdoor celebration. Whether you think there could be a chance of rain or not, having a backup plan will save you from unnecessary stress on your wedding day. 

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