Valerie & Aaron
Photography by Lynne Kennedy Photography
Six years after meeting online, this Calgary couple paid homage to their Scottish roots, exchanging vows at Eilean Donan Castle in the Scottish Highlands, with their daughters by their side.
Choosing the location: “Once we had settled on Scotland, I started searching social media with #scottishweddings, #weddingsinscotland,” says Valerie. “Somehow I came across photos of the Eilean Donan Castle. I had no idea what part of Scotland it was in or how hard it would be to get there, but I knew once I saw it, there wouldn’t be anything else that would compare.”
A helpful planner: Lisa Bauer, of Tartan Weddings, played a big role in planning from a distance. With extensive knowledge of Scotland, Lisa’s expertise made the process easier. “She helped us to take small bites, crossing off one thing at a time,” says Valerie. “It can be very overwhelming to think of the entire picture, but Lisa really helped us prioritize all of the items so that it was less overwhelming.”
Favourite moment: Valerie says, “I will never forget the feeling of walking on that cobblestone and looking up at the castle that I had been dreaming about being in for a year. As I walked across the bridge I took in every stone, I smelled the wet air, I felt my parents beside me. I cried. I was so emotional. I couldn’t believe this was actually happening.”
Some advice: “Leave room in your budget for the cost of marriage visas and the travel time and costs incurred to get to a visa office.”
See more beautiful destination weddings here.
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