Introduced on holiday by a friend, Jess and Will hit it off straight away - even if the boys’ tale about a pal in hospital with a brain bleed sounded far-fetched at the time (it was true, and that very friend went on to be best man).

In August 2023, Will whisked Jess off to Lisbon as a belated birthday treat. At the romantic Sintra Castle, he got down on one knee with a beautiful Finnies the Jeweller ring he’d secretly chosen himself, with help from a friend at the store.

Jess’s hen in Madrid was one to remember: bottomless brunches, dancing on tables and a silent disco through the streets. The weekend started with giggles at airport security when a vibrating suitcase (thanks to a runaway electric toothbrush!) caused much amusement.

The boys opted for Berlin - a weekend of shooting ranges and go-karting that almost didn’t end, thanks to Germany’s only weekend of airport strikes. The scenic route home via Amsterdam made it a stag trip no one
will forget.

Being a wedding coordinator gave Jess a head start. “I booked Cluny Castle in September 2023 and had my suppliers sorted straight away,” she says. “I knew they’d book up fast.”

Cluny Castle was chosen before the proposal was even official. “My mum and I were chatting about dream venues a couple of weeks before Will proposed, and Cluny just rolled off my tongue. None of our guests had been there before, which made it feel really special.”

The theme was a mix of Bridgerton drama and timeless elegance. Wooden tables, candles and neutral runners created a base for bold pops of orange and peach florals. DIY was kept to a minimum. “I’ve seen the stress it can bring, so we left it to the pros!”

The couple’s wedding bands also came from Finnies. Jess chose a diamond band, while Will opted for a bespoke ring featuring three diamonds to mark their wedding date - 3 May.

At Ivory Grace, Jess thought she’d find a satin ballgown. Instead, she fell head-over-heels for the very first dress she tried: an off-the-shoulder crepe ballgown with floral detail. “On the hanger, I wasn’t keen at all. But once I put it on, everyone cried. I tried another eight dresses but came back to that one.”

She styled it with simple jewellery, a watch and orange heels to tie in with the décor. The only alteration was length — first extended, then shortened!

Her four bridesmaids - sister Laura, friends Shauni and Lexi, and niece Amelia - wore a mix of green and orange gowns, chosen themselves from Ivory Grace. Will and his groomsmen wore grey Stewart tartan kilts, with Will distinguished by a plaid. The little bridal party members included a page boy in a matching kilt and flower girl Isla, who picked her own dress from Edinburgh.

The night before, family and friends gathered at Cluny for a relaxed buffet - and a sausage was buried in the grounds in hopes of keeping the rain away. Miraculously, it worked!

Wedding morning was calm, with coffee, champagne and gifts. Jess had written letters to her bridesmaids, while they surprised her with a ‘letters to the bride’ book - cue floods of tears.

The humanist ceremony included handfasting and a personal reading from a friend. Jess walked down the aisle with her dad, then halfway swapped to her stepdad so both had their own moment. “It was so important to me,” she says. Will, not usually the emotional type, cried throughout - a moment that went viral on TikTok thanks to Conor Ross.

Guests enjoyed Nyetimber, beers, canapés and Forest Farm ice cream, with a string quartet playing modern songs that kept everyone guessing.

Dinner was followed by emotional speeches from both dads, Will and the best man. For their first dance, Jess and Will chose Die with a Smile by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga, a nod to Will’s move from England to Scotland for love.

Then came the party. Saxophonist Connor led guests from the meal into the marquee before nine-piece band Funk Nation filled the floor. An Ibiza-style sax set during the band’s break ensured the dance floor never emptied (so much so that some guests missed the buffet!).

“Marrying my best friend was the highlight - and the Ibiza power hour on the dance floor,” says Jess.

Her advice? “Relax and let your suppliers take over on the day. They’re the experts and they all want you to have the best day too.”

The newlyweds enjoyed a minimoon at Gleneagles before jetting off on a February honeymoon to Malaysia, with plans to explore Kuala Lumpur, relax in Penang and tour Borneo to meet the orangutans.

Jessica's Little White Book

Band: Funk Nation

Bridal outfits: Ivory Grace Bridal

Bridesmaids’ outfits: Ivory Grace Bridal

Tan: Pineapple Parlour

Eyelashes: KR Beauty

Nails: Lexi Morris Beauty

Eyebrows: Brows with Harley

Cake & Favours: Dimbim Cakes

Décor: Hays Flowers & North East Events

Signage: Thoughts & Crosses

Saxophone Player: The Man in The Red Suit

Ice Cream Cart: Forest Farm

Dimbim Cakes

Flowers: Hays Flowers

Food: Harry Fraser Catering
Drinks: Majestic Wines & United Suppliers

Groom outfits: Mccalls Highland Wear

Hair: Zoe Gordon Speciality Hair

Make-up: Julia Stronach

Musicians: String Quartet- Rococo

Photographer: By Rhea

Piper: Calum Lawrie Piping Promotions

Rings: Finnie’s

Stationery: Paperoo

Transport: Bains Coaches

Venue: Cluny Castle

Videographer: Conor Ross Media

Tables & Chairs: Rustic Look

Humanist: Neil Mellis