5 minute read
PLANNED TO PERFECTION
Yvonne Hamilton & Colin Ritchie
DATE: Saturday 30th April 2022 PHOTOGRAPHY: Jo + Liam VENUE: The InterContinental Edinburgh The George
As an executive assistant, event planning comes naturally to Yvonne. So, it’s no surprise that she absolutely loved pulling her Edinburgh city wedding together…
It was love at first swipe when Yvonne and Colin first set eyes on one another on Tinder and five years later, he shocked her with a proposal on Pettycur Beach in Fife whilst they were out walking their puppy, Dougal.
Executive assistant Yvonne was eager to get stuck into planning. “It wasn’t stressful at all,” she remembers. “It’s my job to be organised and I loved organising the wedding!” Within two weeks of booking the venue, she’d also secured her MUA, hairdresser, florist, band, photographer and celebrant! “I actually chose the date according to the make-up artist’s availability… That’s when you know a supplier is good,” she laughs.
A TWIST OF FATE
With a firm colour scheme in mind (oyster for the girls and grey for the guys), it was time to start outfit shopping and the bride was first up. Always on the ball, Yvonne had already fallen in love with a dress online. “I saw it was stocked in a boutique in Dundee so made an appointment and, meantime, popped to another store. I tried on a few beautiful dresses but every time I’d be comparing to what I’d seen online… I was certain it was ‘The One’! I told the assistant and she said she thought it was stocked in Aimee Bridal Couture, just along the street.”
Yvonne instantly called the boutique and couldn’t believe her luck when she heard there was one left in stock – and it was discounted due to being discontinued! “There were no appointments that day but when I explained I was certain it was my dress, and it was the only one I wanted to try, the owner Lindsay kindly offered me a slot.” After so much anticipation, though, she couldn’t quite believe it when she tried on the gown and “just wasn’t feeling it”. Reluctant to see a disheartened bride, Lindsay promptly presented Yvonne with a selection of further dresses and, low and behold, dress number three was love at first sight. “You know that feeling everyone talks about when you instantly know? Well, I knew! If I could bottle that feeling, I’d be able to sell it and make a small fortune,” laughs Yvonne.
Yvonne
Keeping her bridal style simple and classy, she accessorised her backless, fishtail Lillian West gown with fresh flowers, elegant pearl earrings and “the most amazing Jimmy Choo shoes”. Yvonne’s best girls (her sister, her oldest niece and her best friend) wore stunning satin dresses from Ghost whilst her younger niece – a very cute fairy flower girl – won everyone over with her peach tutu, gold sparkly wings and matching shoes. Meanwhile, Colin, his two best men and his best best man, his son Mason, were handsomely kitted out in grey tartan kilts. As level-headed on her wedding morning as she is in her high-pressured work environment, Yvonne felt “completely relaxed and chilled” when she woke up on the big day. Whether it was the reiki session she’d had from her make-up artist on the lead-up or the chilled sleepover with her BFF the night before, the stars aligned and she had a fun-filled morning getting ready. Feeling happy, excited and a tad emotional, she headed down the aisle to meet her husband-to-be with Christina
Perri’s A Thousand Years playing on a speaker. The couple said their vows in a humanist ceremony that was relaxed and fun, setting the tone for the rest of the day.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE!
They celebrated with fizz and canapés, and let guests take advantage of the ultraInstagrammable floral wall from Make Believe Events. Then, providing plenty more photo opportunities, the couple had booked the Silver Service Singers instead of favours. “They were amazing and totally got the party started, which is what I intended,” says Yvonne. After everyone enjoyed a delicious meal courtesy of the venue’s inhouse caterers and took note of the gorgeous DIY table décor made by the bride’s aunty, it was speech time then party time! A further 71 guests arrived to join the 109 already there and Yvonne admits it was hard to decide on splitting the daytime and evening guest lists – plus she and Colin faced the age-old debate of whether single guests should have a plus one. Now that it’s all over Yvonne looks back and remembers their day fondly, with not just one but three highlights – becoming Colin’s wife, the singing waiters and their dog making a surprise appearance. “Now we’re married it does just feel the same as being engaged,” she says. “Except that our family – Colin, his son Mason, me, Hugo the cat and Dougal the dog – now feels complete.”
Mack Photo
Dream TEAM
BAND Aurora Wedding Band BRIDE’S DRESS Lillian West at Aimee Bridal Couture BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo BRIDESMAID DRESSES Ghost CELEBRANT Marilyn Jackson of Humanist Society Scotland ENTERTAINMENT Silver Service Singers FLORAL WALL Make Believe Events FLOWERS Poppy Floral Design GROOM’S OUTFIT McCalls Highlandwear HAIR Aileen Blackadder at Smith-s Hair Room MAKE-UP Calleigh Togher Artistry RINGS ROX
PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREDIT
“Great crowd, fab couple! It’s clear to see Colin adores Yvonne. We loved seeing his reaction to her walking down the aisle. And we loved that she kept him on his toes with a few surprises throughout the day. They’re both so loved by their friends and family.” Jo + Liam
