A genuinely interesting wedding: Eve and George

I’m really excited, genuinely thrilled and just a little bit nervous to feature our first ‘genuinely interesting’ real wedding on Pocketful today.



On the basis that none of us have all the answers, and that even the most creative and original weddings steal a few (okay, loads of) ideas here and there, I thought that showcasing a couple who’ve done it ‘their way’ might inspire the rest of us to get the creative juices flowing. What I love most about this wedding is that this couple have done away with lots of traditions, done something pretty different, but still created a really beautiful, moving celebration. Isn’t this just gorgeous....?

 

The Red Squirrel campsite in Glencoe - beautiful

This is the Red Squirrel campsite, up in Glen Coe in the Scottish Highlands. Isn’t it gorgeous? This isn’t luxury ‘glamping’ - this is proper, back-to-nature camping, complete with swimming hole, fishing and campfires. As both the bride and groom love the outdoors, it was a perfect fit for their personalities. With the  mountains in the background, and the shade of the trees reaching over the pathway, it looks and feels almost cathedral-like. This is one of Scotland's most beautiful and impressive locations - why wouldn't you get married here?!



The happy couple, accompanied by the lovely Beau



One of the loveliest things about a relaxed outdoor wedding is that you can invite everyone that’s important to you – human and otherwise! This is Eve and George with Beau: a Very Important Pooch. I can’t think of anything nicer than having your pets along with you on your wedding day, and it creates a lovely informal atmosphere too. I love the idea of opening up your wedding to your guests 'as they are' - kids, pets and all. And how beautiful do they both (all) look?!

I really like the way that Eve and George held onto the traditions that were meaningful to them (big white dress, bouquet and buttonholes), whilst losing the ones that didn't feel like they ‘fit’ (church, sit down meal, walls and a roof...)

One of my favourite things about this wedding is that every single time Eve mentions her wedding dress to me, a HUGE uncontrollable grin breaks out across her face. Seriously, she LOVES this dress. And anything that makes you that happy was seriously worth the investment.

The groom’s uncle is a multi-faith minister, and was able to design a personalised service that fit with the couple’s beliefs. The ceremony was held on the banks of Loch Leven, and included the couple planting an oak tree to together symbolise their commitment (this is so beautiful it actually makes me want to cry). And I love the idea of going back to visit 'your' tree years down the line.


Games after the ceremony

One of the loveliest and most important elements of the day is that no-one was there who wasn’t known and loved by the couple. This means no caterer flapping about timings for the meal when your hilarious best man's speech pushes everything behind schedule, no Master of Ceremonies pushing guests from one part of the day to the next, and no band checking their watches to make sure they don’t over-stay their allotted ‘slot’. What they had instead was a collection of their closest friends and family, who – as a rather talented bunch – provided the food, the entertainment, the music and (most importantly) the atmosphere. The guests feasted on BBQ, played games and sat around a campfire sharing stories and making music. This shot of the games after the ceremony perfectly captures the sense of fun and festival atmosphere of the day.

Altogether, one of the most relaxed, genuine, unpretentious weddings I’ve ever heard of. SO flattered to be allowed to include this here.  



Planting an oak tree together after the ceremony



Wow. Well – that’s our first Pocketful wedding – may there be many more! Do get in touch if you’d like your wedding to be included, I'd love to hear all about it.