PICTURES: Inspirational day at Aviemore Wedding Fair
The Aviemore Wedding Fair was an inspiration to so many who met the experts.
Those planning their own big events – or simply window-shopping – were guided through the various aspects of the big day.
Macdonald Aviemore Resort’s Peregrine Suite was elegantly bedecked for the occasion, ringed by the best wedding specialists and suppliers from across the Highlands and beyond, each inspired in their own way.
“Doing this was so good for me,” explained Claire Smith, who runs Lily Rose Cakes. “After I lost my lovely father, Malcolm, in 2016 I decided to focus on the art of making beautifully designed cakes.
“I had been a graphic designer and wanted to use my skills in a new way. Developing the skill helped me grieve and now I adore presenting uniquely decorated cakes – all statement pieces.”
Another exhibitor was Steve MacLennan from Tomatin, a distillery worker who has also developed a fascinating sideline as something of a wedding decoration himself, developing Highlanders 4 Hire.
“We provide genuine, traditionally-outfitted Highland guards of honour complete with raised crossed swords and our own crafted sgian dubhs and sgian brews,” he said.
He works with wood obtained by the distillery’s redundant casks, to fashion superb Highland dress knives – and bottle openers.
When it came to being dressed for the occasion, the highlight of the day was the afternoon’s fashion show, featuring stunning bridal gowns and beautiful occasionwear for mothers of the bride and groom.
From Elgin, Christine Fraser’s Xanadu Ladies Fashion showcased an exquisite collection of gorgeous bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses, while Marian Grant’s La-Di-Da Fashion of Inverness highlighted the versatile range of stunning outfits for mothers of the bride and guests. Their models regaled their rapt audience with an array of dresses in cream and taupe, cobalt, hot pink, cream and black lace.
Xanadu’s Jenny, Jane, Amber and another Jane presented a hugely diverse range for all tastes, sizes and ages, presenting the latest from Danielle Couture, Phoenix Gowns and Tiffanys Serenade designs.
Xanadu Ladies Fashions and Bridal Boutique also stock a huge range of mother of the bride/groom, wedding guest and special occasion outfits. They also offer a hat hire service with a selection of over 300 to choose from.
The fair came complete with one of the country’s most popular wedding pipers – Spud the Piper whose solo internet posts in all weather during lockdown spread his reputation across the globe. “It did me the world of good!” confirmed Calum (Fraser), of Aviemore, who has since claimed both the Vows and the Scottish Wedding Awards crowns for his entertaining performances in films, TV, documentaries and, most notably, weddings.
Another local representative was Dougie Burns, there to let everyone know that one of Strathspey’s most endearing, and enduring, buildings were available for the perfect Highland wedding.
Abernethy Old Kirk in Nethy Bridge, as he told the visitors, offers the perfect setting for a truly traditional ceremony, with no backdrop better for the wedding albums.
He explained: “The association was formed 14 years ago, when the Church of Scotland trustees no longer required the building for their purposes. A group of local people got together to save the historic building for the future use of the Nethy Bridge and wider communities.
“As a result, the building can still be used for weddings and for funerals which can be either Christian or Humanist.”
