When we first started planning our wedding, we knew we wanted our guests to have an amazing time, and we wanted to blend our Scottish and Indian cultures in a way that felt true to us. With two ceremonies, a vintage-inspired marquee and a ceilidh that had everyone on their feet, our wedding was everything we dreamed of — and more!

Josh and I met at university, both part of the Krishna Consciousness Society. We’d known each other in passing but it wasn’t until a fancy ball that we really clicked. Fast forward to a sneaky Facebook ruse (Josh impersonating my friend online with her blessing — all part of his elaborate plan!) and a surprise trip to Paris… And suddenly I was engaged with a beautiful ring from Foe & Deer on my finger.

We gave ourselves two years to plan and thank goodness we did! Indian weddings are known for being grand, and we knew ours would have a lot of moving parts. Thankfully, we had Priya, Nim and Suhani from Pristine Events to keep everything on track. They were lifesavers, especially with the logistics and liaising with our many vendors.

While the planners handled the big stuff, I spent the final months knee-deep in DIY projects. From stationery (which I designed myself) to sourcing beautiful ceramics from Jaipur for our décor, I loved adding personal touches that made our day feel even more unique.

Choosing Drum Castle felt like fate. My father is the Chief of the Irvine clan, and Drum Castle holds a special place in my family’s history — my grandfather even grew up there! It was the perfect setting for our Scottish ceremony, while the beautiful marquee from Esslemont provided a dreamy space for our Indian wedding and reception. The mix of history and personal significance made it the ideal place to celebrate both our heritages.

For our civil ceremony, I wore my great-grandmother’s wedding dress — a stunning piece of family history. Trying it on with my Grandma before her dementia worsened was incredibly special, and it felt like having her with me on the day. For the Indian ceremony, I wore a stunning Shyamal & Bhumika saree that I’d been dreaming of for years. I had the blouse custom-designed and I loved how the intricate details came together. In the evening, I swapped into a beautiful Monsoon dress for our ceilidh, accessorised with my family’s tartan sash and vintage Cornelia James gloves I found (last minute!) on eBay.

Josh wore a classic kilt from Mitchell Scott for the Scottish ceremony and a traditional Bengali kurta with an open sherwani jacket for the Indian wedding. He looked incredible — I was very impressed with his shopping skills!

The celebrations started the night before with a mehendi evening at Crathes Village Hall, where my friends and I had pizza, played games and enjoyed some relaxed time together. Meanwhile, Josh hosted a welcome event at Maryculter House with his side of the wedding party.

The next morning, we were up bright and early for our Hindu wedding. The sun shone as we circled the fire, exchanged garlands and completed the many beautiful rituals that are part of a Hare Krishna wedding. Our guests wore shades of pink — a vibrant touch that made the day feel even more joyful.

Later that afternoon, everyone explored Drum Castle before returning for the evening ceilidh. We greeted our guests with drinks before being piped in by the Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band. Their special set had the whole room buzzing and it felt so special to have that Scottish tradition woven into the day. For us, blending our cultures wasn’t just about the outfits or the music. It was about creating something that honoured our backgrounds and brought our loved ones together in a way that felt true to both of us.

Our décor combined vintage elegance with Jaipur-inspired touches. The marquee was draped in creamy fabric with blue and white table settings, styled beautifully by Alan Ritchie Exhibition & Design, Virginia’s Vintage Hire and StyleinDetail. I loved how our blue ceramic cups (sourced in Jaipur!) tied everything together. Our linens added just the right amount of luxury and for flowers, Kim Dalglish created stunning arrangements that added softness and romance to the space.

We kept things simple for the Scottish ceremony, with just a bouquet and some ribbon wands for guests to wave as we left the chapel. We also designed postcards for the wedding using paintings by one of my ancestors, Anna Forbes-Irvine. We handwrote individual messages for each guest, and there was a station at the reception with postcards from our pre-wedding photo shoots in Scotland and Kolkata. Our guests wrote messages and
advice here.

Our food was a celebration in itself! For the mehendi night, we had comforting bites from Scottish Pizza Co. On the wedding day, Joon Cuisine wowed guests with a delicious Mediterranean buffet after the Indian ceremony. Later that evening, we enjoyed a fantastic vegan roast dinner — a perfect way to refuel before dancing the night away!

Our first dance was incredibly special. My childhood friend Toni Smart and Josh’s friend Ross Wilson performed My Love is Like a Red Red Rose, followed by Loch Lomond and Mhairi’s Wedding (my middle name!) to get everyone on their feet. Then our ceilidh band kept the energy high all night, with plenty of chaotic dancing and laughter.

To top it all off, Josh’s parents hosted a spectacular reception a few days later in Birmingham at the National Motorcycle Museum. The evening was nothing short of glamorous, with dazzling Bollywood performances, delicious food, and a lively celebration with Josh’s friends and family. It was the perfect way to extend the festivities and bring everyone together for one final night of joy and dancing!

It’s hard to pick just one highlight but having our friends perform for our first dance felt so personal and meaningful. Seeing our guests — some in sarees, some in kilts — dancing together at the ceilidh was amazing. It felt like the perfect blend of our two cultures; exactly what we’d hoped for.

Weddings can feel overwhelming but remember to focus on what truly matters: Celebrating with the people you love. The unexpected moments, like finding the perfect vintage gloves on eBay, often become the most memorable!

For anyone blending cultures, embrace the fun of combining traditions. We found that guests were so enthusiastic to experience something new, from chanting mantras at the Hindu ceremony to learning ceilidh steps on the dance floor. For us, it was all about creating something that reflected our love story and our backgrounds while making sure our guests had the time of their lives. Oh, and I’d definitely suggest an on-the-day coordinator. It was such a relief to have a team taking care of the logistics so our friends and family could just enjoy the day.

Looking back, our wedding was a beautiful whirlwind. And we wouldn’t change a thing.

Carolyn's Little White Book

Band: Cragganmore Ceilidh Band
Bridal accessories: Chisholm Hunter
Bridal outfit: Shyamal & Bhumika, Monsoon
Celebrant: Angela Craven Foulger
Décor: Alan Ritchie Exhibition & Design, Virginia’s Vintage Hire, Jaipur in India, Style in Detail, 88 Events
Eyebrows: Prime Beauty Lounge
Flowers: Kim Dalglish Floral Design
Food/Drink suppliers: Bev’s Kitchen, Scottish Pizza Co & Joon Cuisine
Groom's outfit: Mitchell Scott Inverurie, Manyavar & Mohey
Hair: Zoe Gordon Special Occasion Hair
Henna & Saree draping: Rhinali Patel
Make-up: Paula Beattie Makeup Artist & Skin
Marquee: Esslemont Marquees
Musicians: Toni Smart Ross Wilson
Nails: buff. | east market street
Photographer: By Rhea
Piper: Gordon Highlanders Pipe Band
Transport: RS Coaches
Venue: Drum Castle
Videographer: Paperstreet Productions
Wedding planners: Pristine Events
Wedding priest: Vaisnava Das