AN ISLAND LOVE STORY

Inspired by her love of Arran, photographer Audrey Russell collaborated with a team of Scottish creatives to produce this stunning shoot. Model couple, and local business owners, Emma and Tom added some extra magic by renewing their wedding vows on the day.

What inspired this shoot?

My parents have lived on the island for 30 years and having spent every summer here since I was a child, the island feels like a second home, so any excuse to get over with my camera is always welcome.

After chatting through lockdown, myself and local jeweller, Jess MacDonald Brass knew we wanted to work on something creative together.

With our shared love for Arran and its mountains, we hatched a plan to do a shoot on the island showcasing how beautiful it is, as well as championing its great local businesses.

We wanted to put an elopement spin on it as it’s the road less travelled in Scotland’s elopement scene and in our opinion a hidden gem, with its mountains and glens, ruined castles, standing stones and amazing beaches all really accessible to each other and not too far to travel from Glasgow or Edinburgh airport.

We hear the area inspires Jess’ jewellery designs…

Jess has worked with jewellery for around 30 years, but it was once she returned to the beautiful island, where she grew up, that she found her true calling in the field. Surrounded by the ocean, the mountains and the botanicals on the Isle, she integrated the essence of nature into her pieces – the main focus being the striking landscapes of Scotland.

For the shoot Emma wore one of Jess’s mountain necklaces of Glen Sannox – the glen itself made the perfect backdrop for the ceremony. She also wore Dun Fionn Thistle earrings, made from an imprint of a small thistle picked at Dun Fionn, and a Goatfell and Beinn Bharrain Cuff. Tom wore a 3D Arran tie pin and cufflinks, and they exchanged Glen Sannox inspired mountain rings.

Tell us about the (true) love story at the heart of this shoot…

Our couple for the day were Emma and Tom who, along with their young family, set sail to Arran at the end of 2019, waving goodbye to professional careers to welcome a new chapter of life.

Balmichael Glamping and Arran Alpacas was lovingly created, and literally built by hand through lockdown. The first year of business was rather choppy but together they rode out the storm and now welcome happy glampers to stay in their rustic, sustainable glamping accommodation. From their small farm holding they offer enlightening alpaca treks (and openly admit daily cuddles with their super soft alpacas helped throughout isolated lockdowns)!

Renewing their vows was a sentimental opportunity embraced: to reflect on their love story so far; to celebrate the beautiful isle they call home; and to help showcase inspiring and talented friends made along the journey.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Having Sarah Pomfret on board, who performed their vow renewal, made it all the more special. It felt really emotional as we stood in Glen Sannox with the noise of the burn beside us as they read their reasons for being grateful. They drank Arran Whisky from a stone quaich made from an Arran stone by my talented friends,
The Family Stone and they kept warm with jumpers, blankets and boots from The Old Byre Showroom.

We headed round to the stunning 16th century Lochranza Castle for some of the most amazing food by The French Fox just before the great Scottish weather closed in on us and nearly blew us away. Heading home to Balmicheal made perfect sense for some more Arran goodness supplied from The Arran Gift Box and Alpaca cuddles.

What started off as a styled shoot turned into something so much more – a day of reflection, sentiment, gratitude and, of course, genuine true love.

So much to love. Christina x