Real Wedding – Amy & Gavin Murray – 31st August 2024
We had the weddings of all weddings celebrating Amy & Gavin back in August! With the aim of their day to be one big massive party, they did not disappoint! With Amy being Jewish, they incorporated some of the Jewish customs throughout the day with some traditional music & dancing.
It was a truly fantastic day and the couple have kindly shared the best parts in the blog below…
Firstly a little bit about you..
How did you two meet?
We’d always had mutual friends and knew of each other, but it wasn’t until Covid that we started speaking – thanks to a good old match on Hinge (very romantic!). We spent the entire lockdown chatting and went on our first date in Glasgow when bars and restaurants reopened. We chatted for hours over some drinks and the rest was history. Before we knew it, we’d moved in together and it felt like we’d been together forever. Now four years, a house move, countless holidays and many dates later, here we are as Mr and Mrs!
Where did you get engaged?
We got engaged at our favourite restaurant, Bilson Eleven in Glasgow, which was a beautiful and intimate setting. We were enjoying a lovely tasting menu and Gavin surprised me by getting down on one knee just before dessert to pop the big question. It was a very special night and a moment we’ll never forget.
Finding your venue and planning the wedding
What was it that first attracted you to Kinkell? Was there something that stood out when you knew it would be the perfect place for your special day?
We instantly fell in love with the venue’s rustic charm. The twinkling lights and moody ambiance made it feel like a real-life fairytale. It’s a unique space, with incredible views on a sunny day. But most importantly, it was the only place where we could imagine ourselves getting married. From the moment we stepped into Kinkell, we could picture our big day there, and we knew it was the right choice. We looked at other venues after our first visit, but when we revisited Kinkell, all those feelings came rushing back. It’s a magical space, unlike any other venues we’d seen before.
Tell us a little bit about planning your wedding. Where did you start?
Our first priority was securing the venue and date, which allowed us to approach key suppliers and check their availability. We started by booking our band, photographer, and hair and makeup artists, knowing they book up quickly. Next on the list was dress shopping, as we were going away on a big trip, so wanted to avoid any stress on our return. Luckily, I found my dream dress right away, which left plenty of time for delivery and alterations.
We also made sure to book our caterer and event planner early to allow enough time for preparations and food tastings. Platter and Pop were perfect as they provided the food, flowers and décor, so it was much easier having everything covered by the same team. A few months later, we focused on the remaining touches – bridesmaid dresses, stationery, accommodation and travel arrangements, and gifts for our bridal party.
One of the best last-minute decisions we made was booking a dresser for the day. Chloe from Fairytale Fittings was a lifesaver, steaming all the dresses and helping us get ready. She was an absolute dream and took all the stress out of the morning.
How did you decide on a colour theme or style?
A lot of Instagram scrolling and gathering inspiration from other weddings we’d seen. We chose forest greens and soft, muted tones like dusty pinks, as the venue naturally lends itself to rustic colours. We also wanted an abundance of wildflowers to enhance the venue’s natural charm. One of our favourite touches was the petal-lined aisle. It looked absolutely stunning and added that extra ‘wow’ factor to the ceremony room.
Where did you find your suppliers?
Social media was a great help, and we took word-of-mouth recommendations from friends who had recently gotten married. We took the time to look at the work of our suppliers and spoke to them to find out more about their way of working. With so many suppliers out there, it can be difficult to choose the right one, but having a clear idea of the style we were after made the process much easier. All our suppliers were easy to chat to and friendly, which played a big part in our decision-making.
Is there anything you wish someone had told you about before about planning a barn wedding?
Choosing a venue like this requires more work than a traditional one, where most things come as part of the package. It’s a blank canvas, which allows you to get creative and transform it into your dream wedding venue. However, doing so requires close attention to detail and coordination of external suppliers, so it’s important to be ready to invest the time and effort. If you do, it will make all the difference on your special day and be so worth it!
Was there anything that was really important to you both to have?
The most important thing for us was having everyone we love in the same room, dancing and enjoying the night. Space played a major role in choosing our venue. Since our wedding format was a dinner-dance, we were moving between courses, so we needed a venue with a large dancefloor and a layout where we wouldn’t have to remove chairs or tables throughout the evening. Kinkell Byre was incredibly flexible and worked with us to adjust the layout, ensuring that everyone felt included. This made a huge difference to the flow and atmosphere of the night.
The Big Day!
Tell us about your wedding day, what are your highlights and favourite memories?
There were so many memorable moments! Arriving at the venue and realising we were about to say our vows was surreal—a mix of nerves and excitement. But the highlight of the day has to be the reception. Having the best time with everyone we love, all in one place, was an unforgettable experience. It’s something we’ll never do again, and we’ll cherish that memory forever.
A big shout out has to go to Sophie and the team at Kinkell for all their help. They were on-hand the whole day. ensuring it ran smoothly. It was absolutely perfect from start to finish – everything we had imagined and more.
Have you any advice for other couples that are planning their wedding?
If possible, I’d recommend investing in an event planner to coordinate the flow of your day and keep all your suppliers informed. We found that with everything we were juggling in the lead-up to the wedding, and all the changes along the way, it was easy to overlook the small details. Having someone on hand to ensure everything was in place and that everyone was kept updated was an absolute lifesaver.
How is married life treating you?
We’re loving it! We leave for our honeymoon in Sri Lanka next month and can’t wait for some quality alone time. It’s been such a lovely few months enjoying our newlywed bubble, reliving the best day of our lives through our photos and videos.
Supplier shout outs –
Photographer
@derekchristie
Catering, florist & venue stylist –
@platter_and_pop
Videographer –
@rhb.films
Band –
@creationeventsltd
Stationary –
@createdbyhazelt
Humanist –
Fiona Bennie (Humanist Society Scotland)
@fionabenniecelebrant
Hair –
Steven at Ven The Salon.
@venthesalon
Makeup –
Lauren O’Donnell
@laurenomakeup
