SPARKLERS + FIREWORKS: AN AUTUMN WEDDING AT DUNGLASS ESTATE
FEATURING
Emma + Jack went all in on their favourite season with a cosy autumn wedding at Dunglass Estate, packed with DIY details and a surprise fireworks finale.
“Planning a wedding can be so fun! Don’t listen to the outside voices – especially those who ask why you aren’t stressed!”
~ Emma + Jack
We Fell In Love With…
Hot water bottles on the seats, rust and olive bridesmaids, DIY details galore and dancing under surprise fireworks.
Emma and Jack met at a friend’s house party when they were 15 and 16. Twelve years later, they knew exactly what kind of wedding felt like them. One viewing at Dunglass Estate in East Lothian was all it took to book the cosy, autumnal family day they wanted. With both dads doing readings, both mums presenting the handfasting ties and Emma’s twin sister walking her down the aisle, this one’s a proper family affair in the best way.
Read on for all the cosy autumn inspiration, and Emma and Jack’s advice on enjoying every second of the planning (whatever anyone else says).
TELL US ABOUT YOU TWO + YOUR WEDDING JOURNEY
Jack and I met at high school 12 years ago at a friend’s house party. I was 15 and he was 16. We met in the diner and went on our first date in December, and within a few weeks we were together.
We only went to view Dunglass and immediately booked our wedding, as we wanted an autumnal, cosy family day and it fitted our personalities perfectly. October and autumn is our favourite season, so our wedding featured heavily around this.
We had the best time planning our wedding and were so lucky to have the most wonderful suppliers we could ever ask for. As a bride, I enjoyed the wedding planning process so much that I have started my own stationery business called The Wee Details, as I DIY’d all of the decorations and stationery for our day. We supported each other through the planning, Emma with the creative vision and Jack with the spreadsheets. We truly had the most incredible day and would do it ten times over if we could!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR OUTFITS
I wore an Eliza Jane Howell dress from Pan Pan Bridal in Edinburgh called ‘Zara’, and it was a 1920s-inspired, fully beaded gown. I got it almost two years early in the first shop I went to! It was number seven tried on!
Jack wore a traditional kilt in ‘Lomond Regal’ tartan from A1 Kilt Hire. Our bridesmaids had a mix of rust and olive green dresses going with the autumn theme – all different, and all from Rewritten London, who I could not recommend enough!
Our lovely niece, who is three, was our flower girl and she wore a white Monsoon dress to match mine.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CEREMONY
We chose a humanist ceremony, which meant a lot to us. Our lovely celebrant told our story perfectly. We included our dads, who both did a reading, and we did personal vows to each other, which was one of the best things we did. Claire was great and got to know us so well!
Jordan Murray sang me down the aisle to ‘Hallelujah’ and my twin sister walked me down the aisle to meet Jack, which was so special. Both our mums were involved in the ceremony too, as they presented handfasting ties for us.
We got married under the window in the church and it was perfect! Slightly cold, but we had blankets and hot water bottles on seats for our guests, as well as tissues and personalised wedding newspapers!
TELL US ABOUT THE RECEPTION
The food was incredible – Platter & Pop did the most amazing job! Nothing was a hassle! We had a very simple cake, which we decorated ourselves.
The music was the highlight of our day, and Jordan Murray played our ceremony and drinks reception, which was even outside despite it being October!
Our first dance was to ‘Growing Up Beside You’ by Paolo Nutini, which suits our story. The Rox Band were amazing and captured our music taste perfectly.
We also had surprise fireworks before our first dance, where we got guests outside to do sparklers, then the fireworks started. We danced to the fireworks to Newton Faulkner’s ‘Dream Catch Me’ and that was the best part of our day.
ANY LESSONS LEARNED OR ADVICE YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
The biggest piece of advice I would give is that planning a wedding can be so fun! Don’t listen to the outside voices – especially those who ask why you aren’t stressed!
We honestly had so much fun planning our wedding and it was more than we could’ve ever wished for! Don’t feel that you have to follow trends – do what feels like you and you can’t go wrong!
WHICH SUPPLIERS ROCKED YOUR DAY?
The two biggest shout-outs have to go to our wonderful photographer Jen and our caterers Platter & Pop.
Jen was like a bonus bridesmaid. She captured our day so beautifully and made us feel so comfortable. As soon as I saw her in the morning I felt instantly calm. She gave me her hand warmers as I was cold, checked if I needed anything all day and even helped my maid of honour in the bathroom with my dress! She was incredible and our day would not have been the same without her. Everyone needs a Jen in their life!
Leanne at Platter & Pop was incredible and nothing was too much of a hassle! She held my dress the whole way to the church and made me feel so at ease! We had incredible suppliers overall, but these two went over and above for us!
