Hannah & Stewart came to see Kinkell in August 2021 and booked instantly for October 2022! They had an autumnal themed wedding with Amy Annand filling the venue with forrest green flowers and Hannahs bridesmaids wearing forrest green dresses. Hannah, being a teacher, incorporated some decor from her classes that was a hit with the guests. She also surprised Stewart with their dog, Annie, on the day!
In the blog, they speak about how they got engaged, what meant the most to them when planning the wedding and some advice for anyone planning their big day
Firstly a little bit about you..
How did you two meet?
We met at High School and started going out when we were 15.
Where did you get engaged?
We knew we wanted to get married and had talked about it together. We were in Glagsow and Stewart suggested we go to the jewellers to have a look at engagement rings. We ended up choosing a ring that Stewart had saved to his phone 6 months beforehand. He then presented the ring and said his wee speech a few days later while we were on holiday in Aberfeldy.
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 always wanted to get married in St Andrews as it holds a special place in our hearts. We spend our weekends at our holiday home at Kinkell Braes and so the view of East Sands is one we are familiar with. The idea of our wedding photographs having the same backdrop as our family photos was so appealing! Now we will always walk past Kinkell Byre with the fondest of memories.
Tell us a little bit about planning your wedding. Where did you start?
We didn’t want a long engagement, after having spent the last 11 years together! We were quick to secure our wedding date with Kinkell, and the planning started from there.
How did you decide on a colour theme or style?
With our wedding being in October, we were keen to incorporate some autumnal colours which is why we decided on forest green being the colour of bridesmaids dresses and other accessories.
Where did you find your suppliers?
We were intent on using local suppliers, and people who were recommended by Kinkell. We are so glad we did, as it meant that all of our suppliers knew each other and were well versed in organising weddings at The Byre.
Is there anything you wish someone had told you about before about planning a barn wedding?
Some people advised us to have a wedding planner, because barn weddings involve a lot more DIY than other venues. However, we are really glad that we didn’t. The suppliers are professionals and know exactly what they are doing!
Was there anything that was really important to you both to have?
The only thing that really mattered to us both was having our friends and family there to celebrate with us. Something we loved about Kinkell when we first viewed it was that there was a designated space for each element of the wedding, a ceremony space, a drinks reception space, and an evening reception space. We felt that this meant that our guests wouldn’t be ushered into holding areas while furniture was moved around throughout the day. They commented on this, with many mentioning that they felt it was so relaxed and smooth.
The Big Day!
Tell us about your wedding day, what are your highlights and favourite memories?
Where to start! Our day was 100% perfect from start to finish. We both tried so hard to live in the moment because everyone told us that it would fly by so quickly. We really couldn’t narrow down our favourite moments because it was just the best day of our lives.
Have you any advice for other couples that are planning their wedding?
We would say enjoy the lead up to your wedding as much as possible. Some of our favourite memories are the time spent planning things with our friends and family. It is easy to become stressed when you are planning an event for so many people, but remember you are getting married because you love each other…not because you want one perfect day.
How is married life treating you?
We are loving married life so far. Our wedding day just reminded us of how lucky we are to have one another and such amazing friends and family!
Supplier shout outs:
Photographer – Victoria Photography
Videographer – iDo Videos
Bar- Event Bars St Andrews
Lighting– i-Light
Florist – Amy Annand Flowers
Band – Cut the Cake
Day Music – 4 Play Quartet
Fireworks – Fireworx Scotland
Dress – The Wedding Club, London
Bridesmaid Dresses – Kudos Bridal, Dunfermline
Accessories – Kate Dillon Designs
Dance Lessons – Felicity at Edinburgh Dance School
Cake – Fisher and Donaldsons
Humanist: Gary Smith
