Tender Loving Wedding Style – the proposal

Rachel’s style blog Tender Loving Style is a bit of a fashion and lifestyle bible for us here at Your Scottish Wedding.

So naturally we’re delighted she’s agreed to share all the stages of her and fiancé Brian’s road to their “I do’s” with us.

First up: the engagement

First of all, hello! I’m Rachel. A few quick things about me… I’m 29, I live just outside of Glasgow with my fiancé, Brian.

I co-own a social media and content creation agency with my best friend and also have my own little blog, Tender Loving Style.

I was all set to get married this September, but like many other couples, we decided at the start of this year to postpone due to the current Covid situ.

Roll on 16th September 2023 when we finally get to say ‘I do’ at Cornhill Castle in Biggar.

I’m focusing on the positives of having to postpone, especially getting to hold onto my bride-to-be status for two whole years’ longer!

Plus, it gives me even more time to share my planning (or re-planning, should I say) with you. I am READY for big day planning 2.0!

I said yes!

Anyway, let’s take a step away from the crazy that was 2020 and go back to August 2018 to the dreamy location of Malta.

After a relaxed first day, we were up early on the Saturday to take the short boat trip over to Valetta. It was the perfect morning, strolling through the winding streets.

Our walk took us to the Lower Barrakka Gardens, a serene spot with views out across the sea – it just felt so peaceful!

Heading back to the busier main square, we decided against waiting to eat in one of the restaurants and ended up spotting an M&S food hall; lunch was decided!

Forget fine dining, our picnic was perfect!

We continued exploring Valetta and embarked on the hilly walk to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, which was so busy with tourists – you couldn’t even get properly into the park.

Unbeknown to me at the time, this was one of Brian’s proposal spot ideas, but the crowds weren’t what he had in mind so he suggested a walk back to the Lower Gardens to enjoy the drinks we’d picked up in M&S.

Arriving back in the gardens, we made a beeline for the far corner bench, which had the most amazing views across the harbour.

Ruining the moment, I obviously felt this was the time I needed to go to the toilet, where I proceeded to catch my finger in the latch.

Completely oblivious to what was about to happen, I went back to find Brian at our ideal little viewpoint and felt so content, sitting taking in the scenery.

Suddenly, Brian said he had something to ask me before we had our drinks. Right there, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him!

Everything is a bit of a happy blur of me taking the ring out the box and placing it on my own hand (not entirely sure what the etiquette is here, but I was too excited – something we both still laugh at) and feeling like I was in a dream. Best feeling ever.

Insta vs reality

Of course, in true Insta vs Reality style, it was during this fairy tale moment that I realised my right hand which I’d trapped in the door was actually bleeding a lot and we ended up having to go find a pharmacy soon after to get antiseptic wipes.

So romantic, but I was just relieved it wasn’t my ring finger hand; my plaster wouldn’t have quite gone with my engagement ring!

Look out for Rachel’s next instalment of Tender Loving Wedding Style