Real Wedding – Rosie & Stephen Martin – 28th March 2024

A beautiful day filled with music and food, what more can you want?! Rosie and Stephens brilliant, music filled wedding was just amazing from start to finish. We knew it would be special as soon as we saw an 8 piece choir start setting up for the drinks reception!

The gorgeous couple have kindly answered a few questions about their big day below, hopefully this will help a few of you still planning your wedding with us!

Firstly a little bit about you..

How did you two meet?

We met on Bumble and our first date was in Edinburgh

Where did you get engaged?

I was working on a cruise ship and Stephen joined me for the last two weeks of my contract and when we docked in Lanzarote, he popped the question at ‘Blue 17’ which is a rooftop restaurant with stunning 360 views of the beach and sea.

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 weren’t entirely sure what sort of wedding we were looking to have other than that we wanted it all to happen under one roof – so we looked at a few venues over one weekend in which could cater for this – however we also liked the idea of getting married by the sea but wasn’t too sure how to do it with unpredictable weather. We came to an open day and Kinkell which ticked all of those boxes and was authentically beautiful so if we didn’t have the budget for a lot of decoration it would be fine because it was stunning as it was. The combination of the lighting and the beauty of the venue sold it for us.

Tell us a little bit about planning your wedding. Where did you start?

Luckily I’m a singer – at weddings – so once we sorted our date with Kinkell we knew we had to have Claire The Humanist and get her in the diary immediately. Then for us, food and entertainment were key and then decor and the smaller bits came later on. The suppliers we knew we really wanted; we contacted right away to get them in the diary and then everything else fell into place later on.

How did you decide on a colour theme or style?

Kinkell is already beautiful with a candle/rustic feel so we went with more candles and then we added our personal touches to make it more about who we are on top of what was already there. We had comedic Scottish themed table names for Stephen and I was brought up in the circus so we had our wedding ceremony in the round under that beautiful circle (almost tent shaped) chandelier.

Where did you find your suppliers?

I contacted my friends for all the music (GeO, Jake Rizzo, Nate James), and my best friend’s Missy for my make up, and Sam for photos… then everyone else we found on the Kinkell Byre website or Instagram and through asking our pals.

Is there anything you wish someone had told you about before about planning a barn wedding?

Barns are a BIG empty shell – even a very simple DIY wedding will be stressful – either get your friends and family involved or save enough money to get suppliers who are experts to come in and do the job so that you do not have to deal with it. Ours was a super easy and simple wedding BUT we bought our own table cloths and this was the only thing that I genuinely on reflection wish I’d just found the money the hire them hahaha…

Was there anything that was really important to you both to have?

Phenomenal food and music for everyone to enjoy – all day!

The Big Day!
Tell us about your wedding day, what are your highlights and favourite memories?

Both of us and all of our guests just remember it being such a happy day … Kinkell allows pockets of groups to be dotted about the whole venue all day and have their own space to do what they feel and still be together – it’s such an amazing venue!

Claire the humanist was hilarious and so wonderful at making everyone feel at ease – such a wonderful ceremony I will Cherish forever… the continuous entertainment of music made the day and Wild Rover Food was actually PHENOMENAL – their grazing tables are like a royal banquet; the sticky toffee pudding was next level and the pies … I wish they had those pies to order honestly we’d be ordering pies from them every day.

Have you any advice for other couples that are planning their wedding?

Book ‘Wild Rover Food’ you will not regret it!! Don’t be afraid to ask for help from everyone you know and ask your suppliers all the silly questions. There’s so much pressure to have lots of extras at your wedding these days, you don’t need as much as you think you do, people like food and music and being able to catch up with one another because they don’t see enough of one another. The more elements you have the more stressful your day will be leading up to it, either keep it simple or get someone to help do it for you. If you have a supplier in mind that you love – don’t hold off booking them.
Ps. It will be the best day EVER!

How is married life treating you?

Super cute… we adore and annoy one another just as much as we did before and time is flying by so quickly! Can we do it all again please? (Just the day, not the planning haha)

Supplier shout outs

Photographer – Our friend Samantha Bates
Humanist – Claire The Humanist
Music – GeO Gospel Choir
Jake Rizzo Guitar
Nate James DJ
Catering – Wild Rover Foods
Videography – Dylan McCafferty Media
Make- Up – Missy Mac Edinburgh
Hair – Hairstyling by Shannon
Signage & Stationary – The Write Girl Calligraphy
Flowers – Victoria Blooms
Nanny – Little Royals Nanny Service
Piper – Jack Newth Piper
Light up letters – Go2 Events