A BICYCLE MADE FOR TWO

Alicia Lauckner & Nuala Deans

DATE: Saturday 20th March 2022 PHOTOGRAPHY: Simons Studio VENUE: Comrie Croft

Romantic woodland vows, dreamy DIY details and not one but two gorgeous gowns… Get your relaxed and rustic wedding inspo right here!

Three years after meeting at work, Alicia and Nuala were due to marry in March 2020, two days before the first national lockdown, and like so many other couples had to delay. They rebooked for December 2021 but the pandemic had other plans and, finally, it was third time lucky. “It was the same weekend as our original plan – just two years later. But we did actually get married on our original date!” says Alicia. “It was a little impromptu, in a wee park by the registry office with our parents as witnesses and Colin the Caterpillar as our wedding cake!” Keen to celebrate in full post-lockdown with their loved ones, finding a venue they could host a fun, relaxed weekend wedding for 100 was their top priority. Comrie Croft, which had space for most of their guests to stay and allowed the brides to unleash their creativity, was the first and only venue they visited.

BRINGING THE VISION TO LIFE

“We wanted a rustic and relaxed vibe with some Scottish elements, and almost everything was DIY,” says Alicia. “The toughest thing was trying to make sure we’d thought of all the wee details, rather than the big things or major suppliers everyone typically thinks of. I’d advise other couples to try to delegate as many on-the-day jobs as you can in advance. That way, you can truly relax and not have spreadsheet content floating around your head on your wedding day!” They made Comrie their own with handmade bunting, floral ladders, a homemade arch and old bicycle wheels that were spray painted and decorated with fresh flowers. A friend designed the stationery, Alicia’s artistic sister Deb was responsible for the quirky, personal signage and the couple sourced their seed card favours from Etsy. Taking advantage of the weekend-long stay, everyone arrived the night before and enjoyed chilli cooked by Nuala’s uncle, then toasted marshmallows in the courtyard. The following morning, they woke to beaming sunshine – ideal for the imminent outdoor ceremony – and Nuala, who was four months pregnant at the time, was delighted to be morning sickness-free.

“The wedding morning was a lot of fun,” remembers Alicia. “We had a fun ‘bootcamp’ for guests, then they sat having breakfast in the courtyard.” Meanwhile, the brides got into their bridal attire. Both totally on-trend with lace, Alicia picked up her sleeveless gown second-hand whilst Nuala’s ASOS number was super-flattering on her blooming bump. They accessorised with dried flower hairpieces and added Hunter wellies for the rustic al fresco ceremony; “Not spending a lot on the dresses meant we didn’t mind them getting a little muddy in the woods!”

‘I DO’ TAKE TWO

With the spring sun shining, the brides were piped down their individual aisles – “As we were already married, there were probably fewer nerves than their might have been” – before celebrant Judith Williams did the honours for the second time. “Jude married us in 2020 and very kindly did the ceremony again with a few amendments for our friends and family,” smiles Alicia. “We incorporated a few different elements – ring-warming and sand-pouring – and had written our own vows. We read them two years prior, but felt it was special for everyone else to witness them too.” Afterwards, ‘ciders and sliders’ from funky food van Stag Bites The Hog “went down a storm” with the newlyweds and their guests, before a relaxed buffet-style meal provided by Fallone’s Pizzas. “Who doesn’t love pizza and ice-cream? We also had a range of canapés, antipasti and salad, and they were brilliant at catering to dietary requirements.” After speeches (the highlight being the dubbed over video version of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air from Nuala’s ‘maids) they rounded the foodie offering off with cakes from Cuckoo’s Bakery in Edinburgh. “The vegan Oreo cake was a real winner!” With dancing finally back on the cards, six-piece Sahara played a range of songs, including ceilidh, before the great outdoors beckoned once again – this time for sparklers – and everyone enjoyed the grand finale… A silent disco! “We’re really glad that we had the party bit of the wedding. It felt worth the wait to have all our loved ones in one place after so much time apart,” concludes Alicia.

“The highlight? Perhaps cycling into the wedding reception on a white tandem, dressed in flowers! It was a last-minute decision and a surprise for our guests that caused a lot of entertainment!”

Alicia

Dream TEAM

BAND Sahara BRIDE’S DRESS (NUALA) ASOS BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES Debenhams CATERING Stag Bites The Hog, Fallone’s Pizzas CELEBRANT Judith Williams CAKE Cuckoo’s Bakery CAKE TOPPERS Animal Party Toppers ENGAGEMENT RINGS Macintyres of Edinburgh FLOWERS Florence and Flowers HAIR Hunky-Dory MAKE-UP Helen McNeill Bridal Makeup

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREDIT

“What a day with Nuala and Alicia! It’s not often you can do an outdoor ceremony in March but, lucky for them, it was unseasonably warm and the sun was splitting the sky. I’m a big fan of Comrie Croft as it attracts awesome people who want a fun, rustic, non-formal day filled with music, drinks and love.” Simon Simons Studio

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