HEBRIDEAN SPIRIT: A HARRIS GIN INSPIRED WEDDING ON THE ISLE OF LEWIS
FEATURING
Andrew + Jason celebrated their unique love story with a Lews Castle wedding in the Outer Hebrides
“Remember, this day is a memory that will last a lifetime. Investing your time, energy, and love into making it authentic will make it all the more special – not just for you, but for everyone who shares it with you.”
~ Andrew + Jason
We Fell In Love With…
The gin inspired theme, meaningful details and a stunning terrazzo cake … not to mention the most romantic coastal setting!
For Andrew & Jason, there was no other choice but a Lews Castle wedding. We love how intentional and thoughtful they were with every choice they made for their very special day.
Read on to see all the most beautiful inspiration and read to the end to get some important advice from this lovely pair.
TELL US ABOUT YOU TWO + YOUR WEDDING JOURNEY
We met online and not long into our relationship, Jason began sharing stories about his lifelong love of the Outer Hebrides. His family had been holidaying on the Isles of Lewis and Harris for decades.
It didn’t take long before Andrew too fell for the charm, raw beauty, and the peaceful pace of island life.
On a trip to Stornoway we saw that Lews Castle – always derelict when Jason was growing up – had undergone a stunning multi-million-pound renovation. Jason’s parents saw it and called to say, “We’ve found your perfect wedding venue.”
They were right. The first time we stepped inside we both knew, this was it. The grandeur, the setting and connection to Jason’s childhood, it all just made sense. Being able to hire the castle exclusively sealed the deal. That turned our wedding into a full weekend retreat, not just a single day.
For the theme, we took inspiration from the Isle of Harris Gin bottle. Its terrazzo pattern and warm tones of green, orange, and brown became the foundation for our styling, florals, and kilts. Our wedding was late September so we leaned into a cosy, autumnal palette that mirrored the natural beauty of the Hebrides. It was heartfelt, meaningful and completely us.
We planned the entire wedding ourselves and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We were lucky enough to work with an exceptional group of suppliers. Every single one of them rose to the occasion, going above and beyond to bring our vision to life.
Coordinating around 50 guests, coming from all over Scotland to an island off the west coast, was no small feat. But thanks to meticulous planning and our wedding website, everyone knew exactly what to expect and when. The only real challenge was the unpredictable Scottish weather!
On the day we received a warning text from the ferry operator, which caused a few panicked moments. Thankfully, everyone managed to arrive safely. Our wedding day landed snugly between two storms, and despite the chill, we were blessed with glorious sunshine.
All in all, we navigated the logistics and the weather with a mix of careful planning, a bit of luck, and plenty of Hebridean spirit.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OUTFITS
We both wore matching kilt outfits from MacGregor and MacDuff, based in Glasgow. Originally, we considered wearing our own family tartans, then we discovered their special tartan series inspired by the islands. The “Harris Mist” tartan with its beautiful oranges, greens, and browns, paired perfectly with a green jacket and socks. It complemented our theme and fit perfectly with the warm autumnal palette we chose for the flowers.
Shopping with MacGregor and MacDuff was a fantastic experience. Their customer service was top-notch.
As a fun bonus: these kilts were so new that we were the very first to wear these hire outfits on a wedding day!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CEREMONY
We chose a humanist ceremony because we’re not religious, and we wanted our wedding to be all about us. The ceremony itself was deeply personal and focused on our story.
Our celebrant, Kirsty Harding, guided us through creating a ceremony that felt authentic, heartfelt, and relaxed.
The ceremony took place in the stunning Lews Castle ballroom. We decorated the space with beautiful flowers by Alison from Bespoke Blooms by Maybury, displayed in Harris Gin bottles, and brought terrazzo tiles all the way from Dunfermline.
Music played a special part. We walked in to “Only You” by Alison Moyet (Burberry Classical Version) and walked out to “Like a Prayer”, Miley Cyrus’ cover of a classic.
One special addition was our handfasting ceremony, where we tied our family tartans together. We drank Harris Gin from a quaich, which perfectly reflected our love for the islands and local traditions.
We wanted the ceremony to share our story with our close friends and family and to reflect the love we have for each other and the Outer Hebrides.
TELL US ABOUT THE RECEPTION
We held our drinks reception outside, overlooking Stornoway harbour. Guests enjoyed locally sourced canapés reflecting our commitment to showcasing the best of island produce.
A string quartet, led by Catherine Fish—the head of music at the local high school—played a beautiful mix of classical pieces and local traditional tunes.
Our guest book was a beautiful edition of From the Land by Ian Lawson, an awesome picture book capturing the landscape and culture of the Outer Hebrides.
That evening we cut our stunning terrazzo-themed cake, setting the stage for our first dance to “Close Your Eyes” by Rhodes.
After a lively ceilidh, we shifted gears to a fun, disco vibe. Our DJ played everyone’s favourite songs ensuring the dancefloor stayed full all night long.
To capture memories we used the POV photo app, allowing guests to snap candid moments that were instantly shared in a gallery everyone could enjoy.
ANY LESSONS LEARNED OR ADVICE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
Our biggest advice to couples planning their special day is to make it truly yours. It’s easy to feel pressured to meet others’ expectations but your wedding day is a celebration of your unique love story. Don’t be afraid to say no to anything that doesn’t feel right. Choose the elements that reflect who you are as a couple.
Remember, this day is a memory that will last a lifetime. Investing your time, energy, and love into making it authentic will make it all the more special – not just for you, but for everyone who shares it with you.
