Hayley & Michael
Hayley & Michael’s Wedding at Achnagairn Castle
Hayley and Michael married at Achnagairn Castle on 23rd March 2019 and were blessed with a beautiful spring day for their wedding. They were joined with 140 family and friends and none more important than their daughter, Maisie -such a little character and absolute star. I do not recall her being grumpy once, which is no mean feat for a toddler!! At time’s she stole the show, but I don’t think mum and dad minded too much.
I truly enjoyed photographing this wedding. It was a perfect day and their family and friends were a joy to be around.
We really liked Andy’s photos and looked on Instagram and Facebook for information, we like both the relaxed and formal shots he took and when we met with him he was really easy going and we were comfortable with him straight away, this was important to two people who don’t like getting their photo taken! On the day he was fantastic, with Hayley he worked really well around the hair and make-up being done and with such a crowded room took some fabulous shots, at times you wouldn’t have even noticed he was there! Guests commented on how approachable he was when asked for photos and he took some great shots of couples and groups as well as us. We were delighted with our photos and when we first saw them we were instantly taken back to the day itself and it was great to see moments we had missed and remember everyone that was there.
Andy also gave us our number one tip we now share with others: get a babysitter sorted for our daughter. We did this and it was the best thing for both her and us. Having someone there with the responsibility of her meant that she could relax, enjoy the day, take time away and do what two year old’s do best without having to rely on family and friends who also want to enjoy their day.
Why did you choose Achnagairn Castle as your venue?
How did you go about deciding your look?
My dress was from a small shop, in Hawick, which has sadly now closed. It was a real find and I loved it although it was totally different from the dresses I imagined myself in! My jewellery was gifted to me from my mum on the day of the wedding and it matched perfectly with the dress! My bouquet was done by Angela Hunter and she did such a fabulous job even giving our wee girl her own flower wand! I have since had my bouquet framed and preserved so I can keep a small part of the day forever! Hair and make up were done by Kristine Bondare, with eight members of the wedding party to organise her team were amazing, they were so professional, organised and made everyone feel and look beautiful!
Did you have a particular theme, colour or feel for your wedding?
Michael: My favourite parts of the day was the service. The service was a very relaxed and enjoyable part of the day. Although it is also the most formal, having Michael Macdonald as our minister just made it really memorable and gave it that special touch, as we all shared a laugh and a joke together in front of our family and friends, it really was a special moment. Tying in a blessing for our daughter alongside our marriage and walking her up and down the aisle is a moment I will always treasure.
Achnagairn gave us a list of suppliers they recommended when we booked with them. This was really helpful and allowed us to look at people who had worked at the venue before, this was important to us because we wanted the day to run as smoothly and perfectly as possible for everyone. Having looked through the list we chose our top preferences with the help of recommendations and our own research, we were very lucky as we got our first choice with every supplier. This showed on the day with how well everyone worked together and how amazing it all turned out.
Please click on any link below to find out more about Hayley & Michael’s suppliers
Venue
Decorations
Nicola – Eva’s Covers
Videographer
Thistle Productions
Band
Corra
Florist
Angela Hunter Flowers
Hair & Make-up
Kristine Bondare
