Every relationship is a journey, but this couple’s journey was just a bit more challenging than most. However, they now have a love story that led them down the aisle in none other than gorgeous Scotland, where they could start the next chapter of their life, and do so in style. Craig and Eva Sanders made sure they had the most timeless of keepsakes of this memorable day with their gorgeous images, and you can see them all right here.
From the Bride… We moved to Scotland a year ago from the States and completely fell in love with the country. A few months after the move, my husband was forced to leave the United Kingdom for an unknown duration due to some visa issues. Our lives seemed more like a movie script than reality- two lovers torn apart by the Atlantic Ocean. The distance made everything a lot more clear about our 7 year relationship. When he returned he had a ring in his pocket and proposed on the cliffs overlooking Dunnottar Castle.
Drumtochty Castle in Auchenblae was the perfect backdrop for our wedding, where we stayed for two nights with 50 of our closest family and friends. Having our wedding in a fairy tale castle tucked away in a Scottish forest created the intimate setting we wanted, and provided that once in a lifetime experience for all our guests. Female guests wore millinery (fancy hats a la the Royal wedding); everybody had a ball with this and coordinated their outfits with their hats. Scottish treats included delicious cheese cakes from a local dairy farm topped with local seasonal strawberries, and traditional Scottish tablet as wedding favors.
We had a classic fiddle and concertina play Scottish and Norwegian folk music at our ceremony. The musicians led a wedding party parade from the church to the castle- a ¼ mile walk through the forest. The traditional Scottish ceilidh had all our guests spinning around the dance floor with giant smiles on their faces. Also, a talented American expat friend performed Bluegrass, bringing real Americana to good ol’Scotland.
Norway was present through the Kransekake (traditional Norwegian wedding cake) that my stepfather carried on his lap on the flight from Norway, the ceremony reading that my mother wrote and read in Norwegian, and the bunad (national costume) that my Norwegian family wore.
My husband was the most involved groom ever! He always felt that it was “his wedding too” by doing most of the DIY and being a huge part in the planning process. He drew the church and castle used on all the stationery, and the guestbook artwork of our engagement castle. He stayed up into the wee hours of the night sewing the ceremony programs, baking Scottish shortbread for the welcome bags, hand-stamping favor boxes and lavender toss satchels. He also made the cake topper, menus, bride and groom chalkboard signs, and table numbers. Being a homebrewer, he made speciality beers designed to pair with the wedding menu.
For our colors we choose layers of sage green and white. Our favorite pastime is hiking in the Rocky Mountains and Scottish highlands and we wanted to incorporate the colours of nature.
We had so much fun on our wedding day. We felt so much love from everybody around us and for each other. We surprised our guests and one another throughout the day. All the DIY made the wedding feel like it belonged to us. We have so many vivid memories from the day that we will cherish forever. We will never forget when we saw each other for the first time at the altar, the heartfelt speeches, and the ceilidh dancing.
[dotted]
Wedding Photography: Craig and Eva Sanders | Makeup: Chicabelle | Hair: Tracy Allen | Wedding Cake: Devenick Dairy | Wedding Dress: Pronovias “Alcanar” via Brudekjolen | Bride’s Shoes: Jenny Packman | Bride’s Jewelry: Nordstroms | Groom’s Attire: Reiss | Ceremony Venue: St. Palladius Church in Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Reception Venue: Drumtochty Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland | Letter-Pressing: Glasgow Print Press | Ceremony Music: Blyde Lasses | Reception Music: Danse McCabre |