A DREAM COME TRUE: KINMOUNT HOUSE WEDDING AT CHRISTMAS TIME
FEATURING
Nicole + Jay brought their dream of a fairytale day to life with a Christmas Kinmount House wedding
“Choose elements that reflect your love and joy. If the day centres around you as a couple, it really will be the best day of your lives.”
~ Nicole + Jay
We Fell In Love With…
A sparkly ball gown straight out of a fairytale, the attention to detail and a warm Christmassy feel.
Nicole and Jay brought their Scottish and Australian families together for their big day. Their dream of a fairytale wedding in Scotland was realised with the help of Kinmount House and a host of fantastic suppliers.
Read on to find out all about their story, with some gorgeous inspiration for those who are planning their own wedding.
TELL US ABOUT YOU TWO + YOUR WEDDING JOURNEY
Nicole spent her early years in Glasgow, before moving to Melbourne at age 12. Jay, a true Aussie, grew up in Victoria and made his way to Melbourne at 18. We crossed paths in the pre-COVID era (mid-2019 to be exact) thanks to Tinder.
We suddenly found ourselves in lockdown, living together 24/7. While many couples faced struggles, we emerged stronger.
As restrictions eased, Nicole felt the pull to visit Glasgow and reconnect with friends and family. On Hogmanay in Edinburgh, Jay popped the question. It was a complete surprise!
Nicole had always dreamed of a Christmas wedding in a Scottish castle. Venue visits were arranged and we fell head over heels for Kinmount House in Annan. It was the perfect setting! Think candles, Christmas trees, and twinkling fairy lights.
Planning a wedding in Scotland whilst living in Australia is not for the faint hearted! Choosing suppliers from afar was no easy job, especially with the tricky time difference. Most of our venue meetings were online, and we had to rely on videos and pictures to select flowers and decor.
And just for added fun, we decided to relocate to Scotland during all this. So, while planning our wedding, we were also packing up and moving across the globe with our little dog, Biscuit. Talk about stress!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OUTFITS
Nicole has always dreamed of being a princess, even if just for a day! The only dilemma? Figuring out whether to shop for the dress in Melbourne or Glasgow. The thought of carting it all the way to Scotland felt like a nightmare!
Nicole tried on a few dresses in Melbourne but just wasn’t feeling it. But then, in a twist of fate, her mum managed to book a last-minute appointment with a long admired designer. With a mix of nerves and excitement, we met the designer, and finally found the dress of those wedding princess dreams. It was a big, sparkly ball gown, with a massive train and an exquisite long veil.
Wearing such a heavy dress all day just wasn’t going to work though, so as a surprise a second dress was bought using money left by Nicole’s gran. It felt extra special knowing that even though she wasn’t there in person, a piece of her spirit was in that dress.
Now, let’s talk about Jay! He wore a kilt for the first time, and he had heard some rather interesting rumours about what’s traditionally worn underneath. Naturally, that made him a little hesitant! With only three months to go before the wedding, we rushed to get him measured for his kilt as soon as we arrived in Scotland. All of Jay’s groomsmen joined him in the kilt-wearing fun, despite none of them having donned one before. They all looked incredible and couldn’t stop raving about how much they enjoyed it!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CEREMONY
We knew we wanted our ceremony to feel special, magical, and warm. Our vision included beautiful Christmas trees draped in fairy lights and flickering candles to create an enchanting atmosphere.
We chose to have a celebrant since we aren’t religious, and we felt that a humanist ceremony was the perfect fit for us. It focuses on the people, the relationships, and the connections we share rather than adhering to traditional religious practices. After some searching, we found Lindsey, who was a delight! She is absolutely hilarious yet so warm and kind, and we loved having her play such an important role in our day.
A special element we included was the handfasting ceremony, an ancient Scottish tradition. We tied together two tartans, representing each family. This act symbolised our coming together as one.
Our ceremony was filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments that we will cherish forever.
TELL US ABOUT THE RECEPTION
Our reception was absolutely magical! We created a stunning atmosphere with a long top table draped in lush flowers and an abundance of candles. The ambiance was warm and inviting, making it the perfect setting for a night of celebration.
Kinmount House has an amazing in-house chef who prepared all our meals. Everyone raved about how fabulous the meal was and insisted they wanted more!
The cake was truly a showstopper! Aileen from Three Cupcakes Cakery was an absolute delight to work with. We had so many chats about our vision, from the style to the flavours, and she crafted a masterpiece. We chose vanilla tablet for the cake, which was something a bit different that our Aussie guests likely hadn’t experienced before.
We even had a retro pick-and-mix station. We said it was for the kids, but let’s be honest, it was really for the adults!
Our fantastic band that kept the energy high. One of the highlights was the ceilidh, a traditional Scottish dance that our Aussie guests had never experienced. It was such a fun way to embrace our Scottish roots and get everyone involved!
Our reception was filled with laughter, love, and unforgettable memories, even with the relentless rain. Some of our vendors even mentioned it was one of the wettest weddings they had ever seen, but hey, we’ve heard that rain on your wedding day is good luck!
ANY LESSONS LEARNED OR ADVICE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
Our biggest challenge was definitely the distance. Planning a wedding from the opposite side of the world is not an easy task!
We didn’t get the chance to meet most of our vendors face-to-face until the big day, which added a layer of stress to the whole process.
We can’t stress enough how quickly the day goes by; you really do blink and it’s over! Our top tip is to carve out some time just for the two of you – no videographer, no photographer, no wedding party. It’s easy to get caught up in all the details and lose sight of what really matters, your love for each other.
If you’re lucky, you’ll only have one wedding day, so make it about the two of you. Choose elements that reflect your love and joy. If the day centres around you as a couple, it really will be the best day of your lives.
Afterward, you might experience a bit of a letdown. The excitement of the wedding and having all your loved ones together in one place is incredible and it doesn’t happen often! Life goes back to normal and that feels like a big shift after all the effort that went into your wedding. Take care of each other, and your mental and physical health after the big day. Cherish those memories as you settle back into everyday life.
