Inspiration

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!

Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it?
I got my dress from Alison Kirk Bridal in Dundee. It is a Justin Alexander 8936 and I fell in love with it right away just because it is so elegant and sophisticated. I felt that the simple elegance of the dress really complimented my personal style, but also the wedding itself.

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!

Photography by Ellis-Gibson

What made you choose Crieff Hydro?
It was the lovely surroundings and hotel. Another big factor were the staff; they were very helpful and accommodating when we came to visit every time. My mum and dad also got married here so there was sentimental value.

What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom?
Take in every moment, as the day passes so quickly.

Everyone says take a moment for yourselves as a couple, we found this particularly easy because we got married outside of Crieff Hydro Hotel, so had the car journey to ourselves. We were then whisked away to the Knock, where we had photos, so we could be alone there too.

Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it?
My dress was from Emma Roy of Edinburgh. I had tried on so many of dresses in many different shops but as soon as I put my dress on I felt like a bride, I felt like it made me feel special and everything a bride should be. They say “when you know, you know”.

How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it?
We met in Carlisle, I was at university in Dumfries and Alex was there for a night out.

Alex was the one who popped the question; he had planned a night away for us to see Bastille at the SSE Hydro. We were getting ready and he said “I can’t wait to take my fiancée out”, which confused me. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

How did you know they were the one?
Alex and I are very similar, right from the very first date I could tell we were going to get along very well. We have the same values and interests which made getting along very easy. He always put me at ease, especially after making a mess when we were on our first date and had been out for lunch – he was mortified when his plate was lifted and he’d dropped most of his food around his plate.

What was your favourite part of the day?
I could not choose one single moment that was my favourite part. I wish we could do it all over again!

What song did you choose for your first dance?
A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman.

What was the most romantic part of the day?
Taking our photographs in the beautiful surroundings and getting time to be on our own and have a little catch up/chat.

Did anything funny happen on the day?
Unexpected – one of our guests had passed out in the middle of the speeches. The staff were fantastic and looked after him very well without causing disruption to the speech from the best man. The staff in the hotel called for an ambulance to make sure he had been checked out effectively and was in good health.

What was the most memorable part of the day?
Seeing all our planning come together seamlessly. Making all the effort worth it and a million times more.

Photographer: Iain Struthers Photography

Our Day

What made you choose Crieff Hydro?
Ruth: Growing up, Crieff Hydro was a regular family holiday every year, sometimes more. It felt like home. So what better way than to celebrate my marriage and top off all my memories I’ve had. As for Luc, he was convinced after our very first wedding meeting with Dawn and 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 – like a mini holiday!)

Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it?
Ruth: Elganza – they were brilliant. They ask lots of questions and work out your style. After this, a personal shopper then picks out dresses that they think you will love based on your answers. The funny thing is, I didn’t actually like my dress at first (probably because of the big bow on the front) but I agreed to try it on anyway. Of course, I instantly fell in love with it (with the exception of the bow – that was removed!). Elganza spoke with the designers who agreed to let me design my own personalised belt in its place. So not only did I get my perfect dress, the belt even had my name on it.

How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it?
Luc: 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 (which, by the way, didn’t work. I forgot about the Lewis winds!) Never mind…onto my main event. I wrote Ruth a rap to her favourite song and eh….’rapped’ it to her on the beach. The proposal followed on from the this – needless to say I got a long ‘eeeeehhhhhhh’ and then a big YES!! (Followed by a statement you can’t rap.) Overjoyed was an understatement and I’m sure Ruth would be happy if I agreed never to rap to her again.

How did you know they were the one?
Luc: 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.

Ruth: Like Luc, there wasn’t a defining moment of “the one.” Over time I saw 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 time in the morning. It was lovely just to chill and spend some time with my family and closest friends.

What was the most romantic thing about the day?
Ruth: The photos in the grounds of Crieff. The photographers were amazing and we were just able to be ourselves.

Luc: When 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 and speaking to all the guests and all saying how much fun they are having.

What would be your one key piece of advice bride-to-bride and groom-to-groom?
Groom-to-Groom: During the day, before the evening reception try and find ten minutes to 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.

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 capture every memory…

Photographer: NavyBlur

Our Day

What made you choose Crieff Hydro?
Having been to Crieff Hydro on a couple of weekend breaks, it was always top of our list. We wanted somewhere that we could invite our whole family and all our friends to spend the weekend, and for us to show just how much of a fantastic place it is. Most importantly, we wanted somewhere that was extremely child friendly that would enable us to relax knowing our kids would be safe. Everything and everyone at Crieff Hydro added to the most amazing day.

What would be your one piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom?
It is your special day so make it exactly what you desire, you will never keep everyone happy so concentrate on making each other happy.

Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it?
L.A. Bridal in Galashiels. Amy is absolutely incredible at her job; I gave her an idea of what I was looking for and she pulled out 3 dresses for me to try on, one of which was exactly what I was looking for and it was perfect.

How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it?
Colin and I have known each other for 20 years and although we have been good friends throughout, our paths took us on a different route until we got together 9 years ago. Colin proposed on Christmas Day morning in 2015 by hanging fairy lights on the fence in the back garden which spelt out ‘Marry Me’. Upon opening the curtains and seeing the lights, Colin was down on one knee with the ring.

How did you that they were “the one”?
I’ve always known he was the one!

What was your favourite part of the day?
There are too many parts to mention however seeing the look on our kids faces and the moment I finally had the same surname as them was special.

What song did you choose for your first dance?
Say you won’t let go by James Arthur – it just sums us up.

What was the most romantic thing about the day?
When I saw Colin’s face completely light up when I walked into the room.

Did anything funny happen?
Our 3 year old nephew announced during the ceremony for all to hear that he needed the toilet!

What was the most memorable part of the day?
Everything about the day (and the whole weekend) was memorable, it’s impossible to pin point one specific part. From spending time with the bridesmaids in the morning, to greeting our family and friends once we were legally wed to dancing and partying the night away (including the kids) was memorable.

Photographer: Ellis-Gibson Photography

What made you choose Crieff Hydro?
We loved the scenery and setting of Crieff Hydro. The size of the venue allowed us to invite 160 guests during the day which very few other venues were able to offer us. We loved the Drawing Room as a venue for our ceremony and wedding breakfast and we thought the Ferntower Suite downstairs would be great for our evening celebrations. The staff at Crieff Hydro also were extremely friendly and helpful and this also helped us decide that Crieff Hydro was the right one for us.

What would be your one key piece of advice Bride to Bride & Groom to Groom?
Make a weekend of it – there are so many people to see during the wedding day so try and make the celebrations last as long as you can.

Crieff Hydro is a great place to spend the full weekend so we were able to make the most of our wedding celebrations. We had dinner in The Brasserie the night before for 15 of our closest family and friends and had breakfast on the Sunday with around 100 of our guests who were staying in the hotel.

Having many of our guests around from Friday until Sunday meant there was less pressure on the wedding day to get round all of our guests so we were able to relax and enjoy the wedding even more.

Where did you get your dress and how did you choose it?
The dress was from Ava Grace Bridal in Glasgow. Alison spent time trying different dresses from different shops and found her perfect dress there! It was exactly what she was looking for and everyone agreed she looked stunning!

How did you meet, who proposed and how did they do it?
We first met at University in Glasgow as we were both members of the skiing club. It wasn’t until after a reunion 5 years later that we started dating. Michael proposed in October 2017 in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh. We live close by so it is a place where we have spent a lot of time together. The proposal happened in a quiet spot with a nice view over Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth.

How did you know they were the one?
I think we both knew early in the relationship; we began spending a lot of time together quite quickly and felt really comfortable around each other. We both have similar hobbies and interests which also helps! We both enjoy hill walking and travel which made it easy to find things to do together that we both enjoyed.

What was your favourite part of the day?
There were so many special moments that it is impossible to pick one.

The ceremony was obviously a special moment – it was great to mingle with our guests outside during the drinks reception. The food provided by Crieff Hydro was fantastic and the speeches were also memorable. Our first dance was also very memorable and we both enjoyed the end of the evening with all of our guests on the dance floor.

What song did you choose for your first dance?
We chose Time after Time by Cyndi Lauper

What was the most romantic part of the day?
Our photographer took us away at sunset to get some photos together. The photos were not intrusive and this allowed us both to spend some time together on our wedding day together away from all of our guests. It was a very special 20 minutes with the beautiful back drop of the hills around Crieff.

Did anything funny happen on the day?
One of the bridesmaids (Alison’s sister – Kirsty) did a rap – which neither bride or groom were aware of. This was also quite out of character for Kirsty and she did a great job – receiving a standing ovation.

What was the most memorable part of the day?
There were so many memorable moments – seeing each other for the first time that day as Alison walked down the aisle, the drinks reception outside in the Perthshire sunshine, the speeches, the first dance and also having all of our guests up dancing at the end of the evening.

The food provided by Crieff Hydro was fantastic and many of our guests mentioned how good it was – also memorable were the Crieff Hydro staff. Kayleigh did such a good job in the weeks and months leading up to the wedding making sure that all the finer details were in place and Claire did a tremendous job making sure everything ran smoothly on the day – thanks both.