Fairytale wedding with subtle sparkle at Mansfield Traquair, Edinburgh

It was “love at first sight” when Ashleigh and Paul first viewed Mansfield Traquair and they knew it had to be the site for their “I dos”.

But when Storm Dennis scuppered their plans for photos outside on their wedding day they jumped at their photographer Emma Gray’s suggestion to do a second photoshoot two weeks later at The Den at Culross.

And as an extra bonus their beloved dog Bella was able to join them for their second shoot.

“We got all our gladrags on again and had so much fun clambering through fields and jumping up on hay bales to get more amazing photos!” smiles Ashleigh.

Read on for all the details of their beautiful big day and gorgeous second photoshoot.

 

As soon as Ashleigh and Paul spied their venue they knew it was the one and started to envisage the silver/grey colour scheme that would suit their February date.

“The magical fairytale feel made us feel super special,” remembers Ashleigh. Plus there was plenty of scope to truly personalise it.

As both of their fathers had sadly passed away before their big day the couple made sure their DIY details carried special sentimental meaning.

“We had a ‘heaven’ ladder as there were significant members of our family and friends who couldn’t be with us on the day,” says the bride.

“We also made personalised shot glasses and used them as our table plan and a toast to our dads, so we wanted it to be like the first drink was in memory of them.”

And Cancer Research pins were chosen as the favours in memory of Ashleigh’s dad.

Marrying pre-Covid meant Ashleigh and Paul could have as many in their wedding party as they wanted, including Paul’s daughter Daisy, who was their super-cute flowergirl, and Ashleigh’s three little cousins as page boys.

All of Ashleigh’s bridesmaids stayed with her at her mum’s house the night before the big day and after the shock of a 6am start they had great fun prepping and getting her wedding-ready.

The bride’s beautiful ombre gown was right on point, graduating from ivory at the top to silver at the bottom with a sheer sparkle material overlay.

 

Having been “extremely nervous” the day before at their rehearsal Ashleigh expected to be hit by nerves again but their humanist celebrant Robert Anthony met her before she walked down the aisle and put her at her ease.

Ashleigh walked down the aisle to Highland Cathedral, played by a piper, brass quartet, a harpist and a drummer!

“Music is a big thing in my family so it was very important to me,” she says.

The couple wrote their own vows and this was the only time Ashleigh got a little nervous.

“I think just having to speak out loud in front of 150 people, worrying I was going to get emotional made my nerves go a little but somehow I managed to hold it together!”

 

Ashleigh loved the speeches which had to be done a little differently, as her dad had passed away.

“My mum did a Mother of the Bride speech instead which was awesome and to keep up the trend, my maid of honour also did one which was hilarious,” she says.

Then The Best Singing Waiters got the party started and Ashleigh says the evening just got better and better from there.

“We had a band called Ernest at night who were up for a good time and got Paul and I involved in their performance by giving us musical instruments!” she says.

“It was so much fun! When the evening guests arrived, we were dancing on chairs and doing the conga through the venue.”

 

Then thanks to Storm Dennis, the couple had all the fun of getting dressed up again two weeks later for their second photoshoot at The Den at Culross.

“If couples are given the opportunity to have another shoot, particularly if like us, they couldn’t get outside on their special day or if pets couldn’t be included then I would 100% recommend this!” says Ashleigh.

“We had so much fun and were so relaxed!

“We didn’t expect to have this opportunity but when Emma offered it to us, we grabbed it with both hands. Some of the photos taken that day are actually some of our favourites.”