There is a new top of the color list in my book and it is lavender. It’s fresh, it’s soso pretty, and it’s the star of this Isle of Skye (and might I add GORGEOUS) number. I’ve always been one for the scent, and the flower is gorgeous too, but after a brief love affair that might just turn into something serious with Marianne Taylor Photography‘s images, lavender is the color of the day. And this wedding is the wedding of the hour – in all it’s glory sitting pretty right here.
Jamie and I met and fell in love at 16 when we were in school. After a few years apart at University we realised that we couldn’t live without each other and we were meant to be together. We moved to Melbourne 3 years ago where Jamie proposed on-air at the radio station where I was working. It was a huge surprise to hear his voice on the airwaves, it was such a gorgeous happy day!
When were were deciding where to get married we knew there was only one place, our beautiful home island of Skye where we met in the Scottish Highlands. It was a bit trickier organizing everything from Australia but it made it all the more worthwhile and it was great fun being able to plan and look forward to the big day from afar.
We knew we wanted a very relaxed informal day on Skye where we could really celebrate with our fantastic friends and beautiful families, where the kids could run around enjoying the summer weather in Portree and everyone could let their hair down.
I have always loved lavender, the colour and the smell and decided to use it throughout the day, the colour looks amazing against the Scottish countryside. My dress also had lots of French lace and so we included lace in much of the wedding decoration. The Print Fairy in Melbourne helped us to come up with a lavender and lace design for our invites and we carried this theme throughout the day.
We were married by our good friend Fr Jim Lawlor in our local church and his amazing service set the tone for the whole day. We held a drinks reception in my parents garden in Portree on Skye. My parents home Scorrybreac is a really special place for us and for lots of our friends and family, we have had many happy times in our home and garden. My parents worked tirelessly to get the garden ready and it looked beautiful on the day.
We had a glorious Skye day and decorated the garden with pom poms, lavender bunches in Bell Mason Jars and dried Peony Heads in glass baubles from the gorgeous ‘Shropshire Petals’ based in England. We wanted a real vintage feel to the day and Devon Bunting provided us with gorgeous homemade lace bunting…sending us all the samples to Australia to try! We decorated the gates with flowers and lined the driveway with ceramic rose birdfeeders.
We then had a traditional Highland march to the town hall for our wedding breakfast and reception led by a piper which felt very special. On the island in the past this was common-place so it felt great to re-create a tradition of old.
The hall was decorated with fresh peonies, lavender and corn flowers by Angela Stewart and her team in Inverness with lots of candle light and glass vases. The Gathering Hall in Skye is steeped in tradition and we wanted to make sure that the decoration was subtle enough that the old feeling of the Hall was what stood out. The Hall was actually where my own parents met 35 years ago, it was the main Scottish ceilidh dance hall on the island for many years!
We were delighted to have the amazing Marianne Taylor and her assistant Susanna travel to Skye to take our photographs and Reel Love Films travelled to film the day, we loved the beauty of their films. Skye can put on wind, rain, hail and shine on any given day of the year so the glorious sunshine all day was a real treat for all our visitors! We didn’t really have a plan B if it was pouring with rain, but I kept telling Jamie I had a feeling it was going to be a gorgeous day!
The day was incredible and it was an amazing way to celebrate the journey Jamie and I took over 16 years to get married on our home island with all the people there that played their special part.
It was a day we will never forget, beautiful weather, a beautiful place and most importantly being surrounded by the love and friendship of the people that we are very lucky to share our lives with, there to celebrate our marriage on a fantastic day.
Photography: Marianne Taylor Photography / Wedding Planner: Cheryl Dowie, Premiere Wedding Planners Scotland / Caterer: Charles-Smith Maxwell, Foukou BBQ / Make-Up: Kate Butler / Hair: Elena Bhioghall / Wedding Gown: Martina Liana / Bridal Shoes: Vera Wang / Florist: Angela Stewart Creative / Cake: Top Tier Cakes / Videographer: Reel Love Films / Band: Local Ceilidh Band / Stationary: The Print Fairy / Ceremony Location: St Mary’s RC Church / Reception Location: Scorrybreac House + Skye Gathering Hall Portree