FROM THE HEART

Zahaan Pinto & Linnie Duncan-Parry

DATE: Saturday 30th October 2021 PHOTOGRAPHY: Dan from Fern Photography SECOND SHOOTER: Sinéad from Fern Photography VENUE: St Salvator’s Chapel, St Andrews and Cambo Estate, Kingsbarns

Linnie and Zahaan included family heirlooms and elements from both of their cultures to imbue their wedding day with sentimental meaning

Sparks flew the first time Linnie and Zahaan met at a friend’s birthday but as she’d lost her voice there wasn’t much chat. Then a few days later, Zahaan spied his future wife at the bar at a charity ceilidh. “Not a stranger to cocktails he smoothly asked the barman to make whatever she was having and was taken aback to discover he would be drinking whisky for the rest of the night,” Linnie laughs.

Seven years later Zahaan proposed during a trip to Australia with a ring he’d designed and had made in Mumbai. Linnie’s super-personal engagement ring set the tone, with both bride and groom going on to wear family heirlooms. Zahaan’s wedding ring is his father’s original one from the 1980s while Linnie’s band belonged to his great-great grandmother Cecilia.

The family influence on their wedding didn’t stop there. The couple chose to marry at St Salvator’s Chapel in St Andrews, where Linnie’s parents were married. “We are both from Catholic families, so it was always going to be a Catholic Church ceremony,” she says. And having their ceremony in St Andrews, nearby Cambo Estate was the perfect find, with many guests commenting on its Downton Abbey vibe - “It was just so unique and full of character, so grand yet also so informal and welcoming.”

Keeping with Cambo’s style, they opted for a timeless theme with lots of botanical elements and nods to their heritage. An autumnal navy, deep pink and burgundy colour scheme evolved, and they added hanging foliage and plenty of candlelight to Cambo’s glassroofed courtyard to enhance the feeling of bringing the outside in. The couple included DIY touches, including the Indian chintz table runners Linnie made alongside her mum and mother-in-law to-be.

There was always going to be an international element to this wedding with many guests due to fly in from overseas. The couple’s priority was to be married surrounded by loved ones but planning during the pandemic, they also didn’t want to put their lives on hold indefinitely. They eventually took the difficult decision to cut their guest list in half and ended up having their talented videographers Wild Call Films livestream their ceremony to those who couldn’t come.

10 OUT OF 10

One honoured guest who did make it in the nick of time however was Zahaan’s brother and best man who had repeatedly been denied permission to travel from Melbourne. “In an incredible stroke of good fortune, he received clearance to attend a mere 72 hours before the wedding,” remembers Linnie. The rest of Zahaan’s 10 groomsmen came from destinations including Canada, Germany, and Singapore. While he admits 10 seemed like a “ridiculous” number, each person was important to him. “He maintains 11 men in matching tuxedos make for great photos!” adds Linnie.

While the men looked incredibly suave in their tuxedos, Linnie opted for a custommade A-line gown in ivory Chantilly lace from Rowanjoy. On the day, she accessorised with pearl and diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet and bangles from her mother-in-law, while her stepmother placed a Turkish nazar – evileye talisman- inside her dress for good luck. And to finish the good omens, her mum and maid of honour presented her with a sixpence to hide in her shoe, along with her late grandmother’s brooch for her bouquet - “so she could be with me on the day.”

MARRIED AT LAST

Linnie used to sing in choirs for weddings, so the couple knew they wanted one for their own and the University of St Andrews Chapel Choir obliged with a rendition of Hubert Parry’s I Was Glad as she walked down the aisle. “It felt surreal that it was finally happening after nearly three years of planning and not knowing if it was ever going to happen,” says Linnie. “I was so happy seeing everyone there together and seeing Zahaan grinning at me at the end of the aisle.”

Saying their Catholic rite of marriage vows felt natural to Linnie - “There was a certain weight in those words, knowing they had been said for generations before.” Back at Cambo, a string quartet entertained everyone with a mix of classical music and modern pieces like Maroon 5’s Girls Like You in the Bridgerton style Linnie loves. Then it was time for their unexpected highlight, following their bagpiper Fergus down the grand staircase and into the candlelit wedding breakfast in the courtyard with friends and family thunderously clapping along. “It was magical” says Linnie.

Edinburgh School of Food and Wine served up a fantastic personalised three course menu before everyone moved into the main reception room for speeches. “Having them in this way created a lovely informal atmosphere,” remembers Linnie.

When the party returned to the courtyard, the atmosphere was “easygoing and fun” with everyone dancing away to the Saltire Street Band followed by DJ Justin McEwan. The couple had filled the bar with drink and after the staff and DJ left it turned into a bit of a free for all. “Friends got behind the bar themselves which was really fun,” says Linnie.

Looking back, she says being married “feels right” and advises other couples to not sweat the small stuff when planning. “Guests don’t remember all the smaller details so those are just for you to have fun with.” “Having a dependable wedding planner on the day was a huge support. Roni and Cait from All Wrapped Up were worth their weight in gold.”

Linnie

Dream TEAM

BAND Saltire Street Band BRIDE’S DRESS Rowanjoy Bridal BRIDE’S SHOES Rainbow Club BRIDE’S VEIL Britten Weddings BRIDESMAID DRESSES Coast CEILIDH BAND Norloch Ceilidh Band CELEBRANT Fr Michael Galbraith of the Parish of St James, St Andrews CHOIR University Chapel Choir of St Andrews DJ Justin McEwan DONUT TOWER Cuckoo’s Bakery and Krispy Kreme FAVOURS royalsweets.co.uk and Tewaris FLOWERS Snapdragon Edinburgh GROOM’S SUIT Suitsupply HAIR AMM Hair and Makeup Team HOG ROAST Oink MAKE-UP Sophie Alexis Make-up Artist STATIONERY Cartalia TABLE RUNNER FABRIC VellanaFabrics on Etsy VIDEOGRAPHY Wild Call Films WEDDING PLANNER All Wrapped Up WELCOME BAG The Conscious Candy Co and Camy Wafers

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREDIT

“Linnie and Zahaan’s wedding was elegant and stylish. I really enjoyed spending the day with them and their family and friends, who were all wonderful people to be around. Their venue was extraordinarily beautiful and the portraits we took around the walled garden at sunset were some of my favourites of the year. ” Daniel Fern Photography