4 minute read
Gemma & Heather
Take My Hand
Gemma Bruce and Heather Leighton are bang on trend with choosing to double-barrell their surnames – meet the LeightonBruces who tied the knot in May at Raemoir House, a magnificent exclusive-use venue in the heart of Royal Deeside…
“After meeting online in 2019, we knew within a year that we wanted to get married – but we still had to work out the logistics. We bought our engagement rings in July 2020 and in May 2021 Heather proposed to Gemma in Sutherland’s Grove, near Oban. Gemma followed up in early 2022, popping the question at Meldrum House in Aberdeenshire.
We didn’t want a long engagement and our vision for the big day was simply a relaxed family wedding where we could catch up with those closest to us. Finding the right venue was the priority and Raemoir House ticked all our boxes. The fact it was exclusive use was ideal, and we loved the décor and surroundings. We didn’t even need a theme because Raemoir is so beautiful in itself.
Instead, we simply picked what we liked, what would complement one another and what would make the venue shine even more. Our mums helped with a spot of baking – tablet for the favours made by Heather’s mum whilst Gemma’s mum baked the empire biscuits we had in place of a cake.
Dress shopping happened mid-pandemic, which meant picking the gowns we wanted to try before setting foot in the boutique due to quarantine restrictions. Between that and the added pressure of choosing outfits that complemented one another yet let each bride shine, it was quite the process – but Gemma actually fell in love with the first one she tried on! We both went for ivory A-line dresses, Gemma’s with lace and a bit of sparkle and Heather’s a classic, belted, off-theshoulder gown teamed with a cathedrallength veil. We finished off our outfits with jewellery borrowed from family and funky Irregular Choice shoes – Gemma’s blue and Heather’s lilac. Our bridesmaids followed suit in knee-length dresses that meant they could show their personalities with their footwear.
Taking advantage of having the venue to ourselves, we stayed at Raemoir the night before the wedding with the majority of our 56 day guests, enjoying an informal dinner and pre-wedding catch up. It was
an early start with having two brides, but it was really relaxed – our suppliers and bridesmaids did an excellent job. Our ceremony was conducted by a registrar, which meant we could personalise it and invite our friends to do some special readings. After we became Mrs and Mrs, we shared a grazing table with our guests (an alternative to canapes and a starter) then had an excellent meal provided by the venue. The speeches were emotional – Gemma’s dad spoke and then we spoke – and we followed them up with our first dance, Take My Hand by Skerryvore. Gemma’s always loved that song and we liked how it started slow then got more up tempo – ideal for getting everyone up to dance with us!
The whole evening felt giddy yet relaxed, and our highlight had to simply be having everyone close to us in one room. It was great to have everyone together and feel their support. If we were to give one piece of advice to others planning their weddings, we’d say not to be afraid to ask for your suppliers’ advice. They’ve seen what works; they’re a great source of ideas and their input is invaluable.” ♥
