Soul mates

Lynne McDonald & Mark Downey

From their meeting and engagement to the most beautiful wedding day, Lynne and Mark have taken every step surrounded by the love of family and friends

Despite knowing each other for years, Lynne and Mark didn’t realise they were destined to be together until they ran into one another at the social gathering of a mutual friend. “I was friends with Mark's sister,” Lynne explains. “Then we bumped into each other one evening and things just progressed from there.”

And after four years together, home improvement business owner Mark proposed to assistant dental manager Lynne at home surrounded by all their family. It was a moment Lynne describes as “perfect”.

To get things rolling, Mark made a provisional booking at the couple’s boutique-style wedding venue Dalziel Park Hotel before he even popped the question!

A Beautiful Day

With one major detail already ticked off the list, it was on to the next and Lynne wasted no time in singling out the perfect dress, knowing exactly what she wanted. “I had chosen my dress the week after the proposal,” she reveals. “It was a beautiful day shared with my mum and my best friend, Angela, who was also my maid of honour. I chose it because it was vintage-looking and I love all things vintage. It was perfect from the moment I tried it on and even though they asked me to try on other dresses, I knew it was the one!”

Lynne chose a romantic colour scheme of ivory and blush, picking out soft blooms for her bouquet as well as decorations for the venue. Next on the list after her own wedding dress were those of Lynne’s four bridesmaids. “My best friend was my maid of honour," she explains. “And her daughter was also one of the bridesmaids. Then it was Mark’s two nieces. My flower girl was my step daughter Ruby who wore an ivory silk and tulle dress from Carriages & Castles.”

To fit in with her colour scheme, Lynne’s maid of honour wore a blush vintagelooking dress from Coast. Meanwhile, the dresses from the bridal range at Dorothy Perkins were the same colour and the perfect style for the younger members of the bridal party.

Mark wore Scottish Spirit tartan and his best men were brother Thomas and cousin Kevin. Ushers were nephews Cayden, Thomas and Ethan, brother-inlaw Paul and best friends Darren and Mark.

When it came to making their wedding day run perfectly, family and friends played a starring role. Photographer Rosaleen Bonnar is a dear friend of Mark’s, and Lynne’s talented 17-yearold niece Millie Tipping created the couple’s two-tier wedding cake. Lynne’s niece, Rianne, played guitar and sang, and another friend created favours of homemade limoncello. Meanwhile, good pal John Goodwin of Prestige Bridal Cars ensured there was stylish transportation in the form of a white Bentley. And if that’s not enough, celebrant Carolyn Maguire is another dear friend of Lynne’s. “We met through her husband, Phil, who is my running buddy,” Lynne says. “Carolyn was one of the first to meet us as a couple so she knew our journey together – that’s why she had to marry us. Everyone made our day so perfect and beautiful.”

The Best People

With a self-confessed love of organising, Lynne relished every moment of creating her dream wedding. “I loved all the planning, but probably the most challenging part was the seating arrangement for the meal,” she says. “I loved watching it all come together and having the best people in our lives wanting to help plan it with you.”

The night before the wedding Lynne and Angela stayed in the hotel and enjoyed dinner and drinks together. Lynne admits to feeling a little emotional and teary the next morning, but the day soon got into full swing. “I loved it when all the girls and my mum came to the room to get ready for hair and make-up. Everyone was so excited and Rosaleen was there taking photos. “She was amazing and funny and made us feel very special,” says Lynne. “You didn’t even know she was there half the time. Very professional.”

To ensure her planned look came together, Lynne had her trusted hairdresser Ryan on hand. Her make-up artist Gill blended smokey eyes with a dewy complexion and nude lips. “Just before my dad walked me down the aisle, we had a moment together,” Lynne remembers. “He had tears in his eyes – we both did. He’d been waiting a long time for the moment … they were happy tears, though!”

Lynne was piped down the aisle to the traditional song Highland Cathedral “We had a civil wedding,” she explains. “Carolyn met up with us to discuss ideas for the ceremony. We had my sister-inlaw say a poem, my niece sang a hymn and we were both handfasted by my mum and Mark’s sister. “We also had a blessing in Gaelic and a quaich toast for the both of us. A lovely Scottish feel to it.”

A drinks reception followed with music from a saxophonist and then the 110 guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal prepared by the hotel. For the evening celebrations, entertainment came from soul singer Louise Mehan and two of Mark’s close friends – who are also DJs – played a set each. To round off the evening, niece Rianne sang some Scottish songs.

“You could feel everyone’s love for us. It was amazing. Everyone was buzzing, the dance floor was never empty,” Lynne recalls. “Mark is my soulmate and best friend. Getting married was the cherry on top of the cake.”

“Just before my dad walked me down the aisle, we had a moment together. He had tears in his eyes – we both did.”

Lynne

BRIDE’S DRESS

Lilian West from Bijoux Bridal

BRIDE’S HEADWEAR

SWEETV

BRIDE’S SHOES Rainbow Club

BRIDESMAID DRESSES

Coast and Dorothy Perkins bridal

CELEBRANT Carolyn Maguire

DÉCOR

Thistle Flowers by Yvonne MacDonald

FLOWERS Little Petals

FLOWER GIRL’S DRESS Carriages & Castles

GROOM’S OUTFIT Kilt & Suit Co Ltd

HAIR

Ryan McAuley at NK Hair & Beauty

MAKE-UP

Gill Brownlie at Blond Noir

RINGS

Cartier and Chisholm & Hunter

SINGER

Louise Mehan from SouLutions

STATIONERY Starca Designs

TRANSPORT

Prestige Bridal Cars

VIDEOGRAPHY cs.scotland_film

PHOTOGRAPHER’S CREDIT

“Mark and Lynne's wedding was beautiful from start to finish and was a pleasure to capture. They have a beautiful love story set against a stunning backdrop of carefully picked suppliers, devoted friends, and family along with amazing music. I can't finish without mentioning gorgeous Ruby, she loved every single minute.”

Rosaleen Rosaleen Bonnar Photography